TicketsMILWAUKEE -- Ava Goeller scored a 44-second hat trick in the final three minutes to pull Cincinnati within three, but Marquette's all-day attack was too much for the Bearcats in a 16-13 defeat Saturday afternoon, each team's season-opener.
Goeller, the reigning Big South Freshman of the Year at Radford, scored 40 goals last season with nine hat tricks. Her five for the game was one off a career-high.
Senior Kylie Nause's first-quarter hat trick began with a rebound off her own free-position attempt at 11:42. Goeller scored her first UC goal early in the second quarter to get within 5-4.
The Golden Eagles scored the first three goals of the third quarter to lead 12-6, their largest of the day. Alyssa Adams, an All-Conference honoree who returned for her fifth season, then got into the scoring column to give UC some relief.
The Bearcats won the turnover (18-14) ground ball (19-15) battle while also out-shooting the hosts 39-35. Marquette had three hat tricks on the day. Freshman Sophie O'Brien also netted five saves in the first half alone, finishing with six.
FROM GINA THOMAS
"It was a tough outcome, but not a bad start. We hit some injuries that slowed us down, but I thought we came out strong and finished strong. We lost ourselves in the second and third quarter. This team is young and experience is only going to help them gain confidence and see success. They're setting their standard, and we're looking good from the start."
NOTABLE
-Marquette leads the all-time series 7-3. UC won the 2019 and 2021 meetings.
-Nause had five hat tricks last season (31 goals total), and ranks seventh in school history with 83.
-Juniors Grace Wehland and Morgan Bates scored their first and second-career goals.
-Freshmen Sophie O'Brien (goalie) and Alexis Rich (defender) earned starting nods.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati hosts Ohio State in Wednesday's home opener (4 p.m.) inside Nippert Stadium. Admission is free.
Goeller, the reigning Big South Freshman of the Year at Radford, scored 40 goals last season with nine hat tricks. Her five for the game was one off a career-high.
Senior Kylie Nause's first-quarter hat trick began with a rebound off her own free-position attempt at 11:42. Goeller scored her first UC goal early in the second quarter to get within 5-4.
The Golden Eagles scored the first three goals of the third quarter to lead 12-6, their largest of the day. Alyssa Adams, an All-Conference honoree who returned for her fifth season, then got into the scoring column to give UC some relief.
The Bearcats won the turnover (18-14) ground ball (19-15) battle while also out-shooting the hosts 39-35. Marquette had three hat tricks on the day. Freshman Sophie O'Brien also netted five saves in the first half alone, finishing with six.
FROM GINA THOMAS
"It was a tough outcome, but not a bad start. We hit some injuries that slowed us down, but I thought we came out strong and finished strong. We lost ourselves in the second and third quarter. This team is young and experience is only going to help them gain confidence and see success. They're setting their standard, and we're looking good from the start."
NOTABLE
-Marquette leads the all-time series 7-3. UC won the 2019 and 2021 meetings.
-Nause had five hat tricks last season (31 goals total), and ranks seventh in school history with 83.
-Juniors Grace Wehland and Morgan Bates scored their first and second-career goals.
-Freshmen Sophie O'Brien (goalie) and Alexis Rich (defender) earned starting nods.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati hosts Ohio State in Wednesday's home opener (4 p.m.) inside Nippert Stadium. Admission is free.