Six years ago, she didn’t even know where Marquette was.

Now as a senior for the Golden Eagles, midfielder Grace Gabriel is poised to lead Wisconsin’s only Division I program to new heights.

Conversely, for head coach Meredith Black, she had no idea Gabriel would be this good. After all, Black only saw her play one half of one game before inviting Marquette’s first All-American to campus.

Following up a record-breaking season in 2018, Black, Gabriel and the rest of the Golden Eagles will try to push toward Marquette’s first Big East title and NCAA tournament berth in 2019. The mere talk of those two things for the seventh-year program is in stark contrast to how the program was seen just a few years ago.

“It’s crazy how the view has changed,” Gabriel said. “When [Marquette started lacrosse], no one took them seriously. Now, the view has completely changed. People take us seriously, people know we’re getting better and that’s intimidating. People just know that Marquette lacrosse is a serious program, and we’re getting better.”

A reason for intimidation is Gabriel, Marquette’s do-everything player who was named 2018 Big East co-midfielder of the year and landed a spot on the IWLCA All-American second team. Modest in personality, but mighty on the field, Gabriel led her team in goals (56), points (67), draw controls (107) and caused turnovers (31) last season as Marquette (10-8, 6-3 Big East) earned its first Big East tournament berth.

“Last year was a huge year for us,” said Gabriel. “Making it to the Big East tournament, I can’t even explain how it felt when the last whistle blew and we were going to the tournament. Everything we did to get to this moment was so worth it. Being a startup program it has been tough and challenging. We really made a statement.”

Arriving to the tournament alone isn’t enough though.

“It was awesome that we made it,” Gabriel added. “Now it’s time to focus on winning it. We proved we’re a contender. We have the ability to win the whole thing. That’s really our goal. It’s what we think about at practice [and] lifting. That’s what we’re focusing on, that goal.”

When [Marquette started lacrosse], no one took them seriously. Now, the view has completely changed. People take us seriously, people know we’re getting better and that’s intimidating.

That type of belief is what Black loves about her star midfielder. For any program ready to make the next step, it needs a player like Gabriel to take the reins.

“[Grace is] unbelievable, I love her as a player and a person,” Black said. “She’s unbelievable, she has earned every aware that she’s got. She’s worked her butt to earn them. She’s transformative for our program. There’s other players, like Allison Lane that stand out, as well. I’m not sure where Grace is without some of those other players.”

Those other players, like Lane and the first group of seniors to go through Black’s program, were cited by Gabriel as the tone-setters. They were seniors during Gabriel’s freshman season and cultivated a culture that’s left a lasting legacy.

“When I was a freshman, I had great leaders that paved the road to me,” Gabriel noted. “They taught me to be a good leader. I’ve taken bits and pieces from them and tried to bring that into how I lead.”

Gabriel’s leadership is displayed by her talents on the field. Black said that Lane was the talkative attacking might on the field. Now it’s Gabriel’s time to lead vocally, even if it’s not natural for her.

“It’s tough. I don’t like talking about myself,” said Gabriel. “I just like to show that I’m dedicated to this team. I’m willing to do anything for this team to be as successful as possible.”

Black is confident that Gabriel will step up to the task.

“She now has to take on that role of leader and player,” Black said. “She’ll do a great job.”

For 2019, Marquette faces a unique challenge in that the Big East has been transformed from a 10-squad conference into a six-team league following the departures of champion Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Temple and Vanderbilt to the newly formed American Athletic Conference.

Newly added Old Dominion will round out the six-team setup that creates an opening for teams who were blocked by Florida’s perennial success. Now it’s anyone’s game. And Marquette believes it has a chance at the crown.

“Absolutely, we feel that way,” Black said. “We like that. We feel like we can compete for the Big East title. That’s awesome. That’s a great feeling to have. It being a smaller conference, it’s a little intimidating because every game really, really matters.”

And Gabriel is sure to let any of the doubters be aware of how she and her teammates feel going into 2019.

“You better watch out because we’re coming.”

Fall Focus
Big East

With perennial titleholder Florida off to the American Athletic Conference with a quartet of other teams (Cincinnati, Connecticut Temple and Vanderbilt), the Big East is wide open for the first time in a while. Georgetown seems keen to take over the Gators’ pedestal, with consideration given to Denver and Marquette. Teams are listed in order of last year’s final standings.

Georgetown
8-1 Big East, 12-7 Overall

The Hoyas ended a promising 2018 campaign with three losses in their final four games. Georgetown’s success came in one-goal contests (4-0), while none of the team’s seven losses were by fewer than three goals. The top five point scorers return led by Taylor Gebhardt (53 goals, 12 assists) and Michaela Bruno (42 goals, 13 assists). The multi-dimensional Natalia Lynch (25 goals, 14 assists, 81 draws, 23 caused turnovers) is also back. The majority of the defense will also return anchored by netminder Haelle Chomo.

Denver
6-3 Big East, 13-7 Overall

An appearance in the Big East final and a second-round jaunt into the NCAA tournament has the Pioneers ready for its first Big East title in 2019. The top five scorers from last year’s team are back led by Julia Feiss (45 goals, 10 assists) and Quintin Hoch-Bullen (41 goals, 18 assists). Draw specialist Maddie Baum (5.4 draws per game) will return to this veteran laden team that won four games against top-20 competition last year.

Marquette
6-3 Big East, 10-8 Overall

When you return a force like Grace Gabriel, it’s easy to feel good about your chances for the upcoming season. How the young defense shapes up behind her will be key to Marquette’s success. With the new-look Big East, there’s positivity in the Golden Eagles camp heading into 2019.

Villanova
4-5 Big East, 9-7 Overall

Following a pair of four-win seasons, the Wildcats posted a 9-7 record, earning the program’s first winning season since 2015 (9-8). Villanova seems poised to make an appearance in the Big East Tournament as it returns its top four scorers led by Katie Comerford (32 goals, 33 assists). The Wildcats may be inclined to go offensive in 2019 as it graduated the majority of its defense last year that yielded 12.5 goals per game.

Old Dominion 
2-3 Big East, 5-13 Overall

The Monarchs join the new-look Big East as the Southern-most team after a four-year stint in the Atlantic Sun. Last year’s 5-13 mark was the first losing season since 2014, and 2018 may be a struggle as well. Along with being in a new conference, ODU will have to replace four of its top five scorers from last year and rely on returners Katie Miller (20 goals, 10 assists) and Sophia Richie (27 goals, 2 assists) to carry the load.

Butler
0-9 Big East, 1-16 Overall

Year two felt familiar to the Bulldogs, who again finished with a 1-16 overall record, while going winless in the Big East. Butler will look to improve upon its 6.82 goals-per-game average from last year with redshirt-senior Haley Hallenbeck (21 goals in 2018) and sophomore Ashley Guerra (21 goals) returning to the attack.