Women’s Soccer Keeps Hope Alive With Win Over Providence

The Golden Eagles survived the Friars and repeated trips to the VAR monitor to still have a chance at the Big East tournament.

I tuned in late to Marquette women’s soccer on Thursday evening, that’s how life goes sometimes. When I turned the FloSports broadcast on, I already knew:

1. Marquette had to win this game to have any chance at a Big East tournament berth
2. Marquette had taken a 1-0 lead in the first half
3. Providence had equalized on a penalty kick
4. Providence was outshooting Marquette 6-1 after halftime when they put that PK in the net

When the broadcast turned on, I learned so much more about what had happened in the match. A video review was underway to determine whether or not the Tess O’Connell goal that was called on the field would stand. As the referee took his time getting it right, the FloSports play-by-play man used the space to explain that VAR had reversed a call to allow Josie Bieda’s first half goal to stand AND VAR wiped away a Providence goal AND VAR confirmed the penalty kick call.

So much going on!

The funny part about all of this?

The FloSports broadcast started sputtering in the final few minutes and I missed the very end of the match because of the loss of signal. It’s funny that a match that pivoted on VAR was ultimately unavailable via live video.

Here’s Bieda’s goal in the 33rd minute, which was assisted by Tess O’Connell of all people.

Just a tremendous boo-boo by the Providence defenders to just stand there while the Marquette players charged the net in case of a rebound, especially while they were outnumbered to generate a wall for O’Connell to shoot over.

Here’s O’Connell’s game winner in the 68th minute, which gives her six goals on the season.

Part of that review had to be about whether or not it was O’Connell’s head that got the ball to cross the plane. In any case, it’s still pretty good heads up (pun intended) play by whoever that is on the backside (Kate Gibson, maybe? I can’t make out the numbers) to poke it in for sure.

Another fun thing I learned after tuning in: Head coach Chris Allen threw out his Elise Krone/Chloe Olson keeper rotation and went with redshirt freshman Charlotte Huggard in net in this match. She sat out the 2023 season at Purdue before transferring to Marquette, so this was her first career start after a three minute appearance at the end of the Mercyhurst game earlier this season. She made six saves to pick up her first career win. What does this mean for the job for the rest of the season?

Up Next: I guess we’ll find out on Sunday when #25 Xavier comes to town for a 1pm start in the Valley. Marquette is currently three points behind the sixth and final Big East tournament spot, so they will still need to find a way to get a positive result against a 13-2-2 Musketeers squad that’s been off since a 2-1 loss to Providence on Sunday.