Marquette Can’t Contain Minnesota In Challenge Cup Finale

The Golden Eagles scored in the first half for the first time this season, but let in two goals after intermission in a loss to the Gophers.

For a moment on Sunday afternoon, the bright light of good news shone on Marquette women’s soccer. Josie Bieda scored a goal in the first half, which was the first goal before intermission of the season for the Golden Eagles, and yep, that goal put them up 1-0 on visiting Minnesota in the 31st minute.

However, the underlaying numbers of the situation provided an omen for where things were going in the second half. The good news was that Bieda’s shot was one of three in the first half for Marquette, and all three were on goal. The bad news is that Minnesota outshot the Golden Eagles 11-3 before halftime, and the Gophers put seven of them on frame. Yes, that means seven shots for keeper Chloe Olson…… but it also means that it was kind of only a matter of time before the Gophers put one in the net.

And that matter of time popped up less than five minutes into the second half, as a ball lifted into the box slipped past Chloe Olson and Sophia Romine just had to tip it into the net for the equalizer.

That was the second shot of the second half for the visitors on their way to an 8-1 shooting margin for them in the final 45 minutes. That lopsided offensive situation, or rather Marquette’s continuing inability to mount persistent pressure, created the space for this Minnesota goal off a corner kick in the 77th minute.

I should probably mention that Minnesota had 11 corner kicks in the match against zero for Marquette. Which seems bad. Corner kicks aren’t the be all/end all of of offensive production measurement, but getting outdone 11-0 is definitely a sign that something wasn’t working out very well for you across 90 minutes.

Marquette’s lone shot of the second half did come in the 86th minute, so that does count as a chance at equalizing. Carly Christopher missed over the top of the net, and that was that for MU chances.

Up Next: Well, the good news is that Marquette now gets a full week to reset from dropping to 1-4-1 overall on the year. The bad news is that next week Sunday’s opponent is #9 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are 3-1-0 as I write this and on a three match winning streak after opening the year with a loss to Michigan State. However, they’re also at Butler right now, and up 1-0 just short of the 70 minute mark. They’ll also how Northern Illinois between now and when MU comes to town.