2023 Women's Top 30: How Marquette Fared vs. Projections

Before USA Lacrosse Magazine looks ahead to what’s to come in 2024, our team of staff and contributors decided it was worth taking one last look at 2023.

After all, you have to look at the most recent results before making projections for what’s to come. To do that, we’re taking a journey through the top 30 teams in men’s and women’s lacrosse — what went right, what went wrong and what we should all think of that team’s season.

Was it a success? A failure? A mixture of both? You’ll find out our thoughts over the next month or so.

MARQUETTE WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason/Final Top 20 Ranking: Unranked/Unranked (also considered)
2023 record: 15-4 (7-2 Big East)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Marquette reacted to its first loss of the season — a not-so-shocking 21-14 setback against eventual national champion Northwestern — by ripping off 12 straight wins. That streak only came to an end against Denver, an NCAA semifinalist. The Golden Eagles ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense (15.95) behind 89 points from senior Mary Schumar.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Marquette lost its last three games, which was an unfortunate end to an otherwise historic season. The Golden Eagles lost 12-5 to Denver in the regular season finale, then fell in a 17-16 heartbreaker against UConn in the Big East semifinals. Marquette’s resume was strong enough to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament, but Richmond had the upper hand in round one, 18-8.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

A 12-9 win over UConn on April 15 was Marquette’s second-ever win over the Huskies and second-ever win over an opponent ranked in the IWCLA’s Top 25 coaches poll. It also gave Marquette 10 straight wins.

VERDICT

It was an unexpectedly excellent season for Marquette, which was seemingly on few radars entering the spring. Marquette’s 15 wins set a program record, and the team made its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. The offense was electric, with a pair of 50-goal scorers (Lydia Foust, 59; Shea Garcia, 54), a 44-goal scorer (Meg Bireley) and an elite facilitator in Mary Schumar (69 assists). It was a season to remember in Milwaukee.