Marquette Golden Eagles
Overall Rank: #9
Conference Rank: #1 Big East
Marquette Team Page
The Marquette Golden Eagles move into a newer version of the Big East Conference in 2013. Under the leadership of veteran head coach Markus Roeders, who has never had a losing season in all of his years of coaching, the Golden Eagles will continue to play the same level of soccer that has made them one of the most consistent in the nation.
2012 Record: 18-2-3, 9-0-1
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Markus Roeders
Strengths:
The attack for Marquette is very strong as they scored 59 goals in 2012. Seniors Taylor Madigan and Maegan Kelly return and will be the sparkplugs to the attack for the Golden Eagles. The two combined for 17 goals. Kelly’s all-around play making is also what makes this Marquette side very dynamic in the attacking third. Kelly had 13 assists in 2012 and should definitely be on the radar of NWSL clubs come time for the 2014 NWSL Draft. Defensively, Amanda Engel had an excellent freshman season as she had 0.42 goals against average and was 14-0-2 in goal for Marquette. Emily Jacobson is the leader along the backline that only conceded four goals outside of the Carolina and Duke losses. Jacobson was Third-Team All-Big East in 2012 and her senior leadership will strengthen an elite Marquette defense.
Weaknesses:
There are not many weaknesses on the Marquette team. In the matches that the Golden Eagles lost in 2012 to Carolina and Duke, they struggled to keep the Tar Heels and Blue Devils scoring chances out of the net. Duke scored five goals on 14 shots for example. If the Golden Eagles can limit the quality scoring chances by Portland and UCLA when they meet this season, they should be in position late in the second half to get results in both of those matches.
Final Projection:
The Golden Eagles will be tested right out of the gates to start the 2013 season. Marquette opens the season on August 23rd with a match against Portland at the always raucous Merlo Field. This will be a great opportunity to go into a very difficult place to play with experienced attackers in Madigan and Kelly and try to get a statement result. The following week a neutral site match in South Bend against UCLA will be another great matchup that the Golden Eagles will have an excellent chance to get a result. The conference schedule will have a critical showdown against Georgetown at Valley Fields on October 13th. This matchup should end up deciding the overall conference champion as Marquette and Georgetown received all of the first place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll for the Big East as Marquette got seven and Georgetown received the other three first place votes. Overall, the experienced attack of Madigan and Kelly, along with the great home-field advantage, should set Marquette up for a Big East Conference Championship run and a College Cup appearance in 2013.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Taylor Madigan, Senior, Midfield/Forward, 9
Assists: Maegan Kelly, Senior, Midfield/Forward, 13
Shots: Maegan Kelly, Senior, Midfield/Forward, 69
Saves: Amanda Engel, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, 43
Madness 2014 NWSL Draft Rankings:
#26 Maegan Kelly
Madness 2013 Women’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#40 Morgan Proffitt
#57 Elizabeth Bartels
#137 Erin Holland
See All Women's Soccer Top 44 Team Previews
