A Season Defined by Chemistry
The Marquette women's soccer program is entering the 2025 campaign with a clear mission: to turn a turbulent recent stretch into a springboard for a genuine Big East resurgence. After a season marked by inconsistency, the team is banking on the cohesion built during an off‑season retreat to carry them forward.
A core group of returning juniors anchors the squad, including forward Jocelyn Leigh, who led the Golden Eagles with seven goals last fall and earned a spot on the Preseason All‑Big East Team, and midfielder Megan Murray, whose playmaking earned her the distinction of being the top assister in 2025 and who also represented the Philippines on the international stage.
Sophomore midfielder Coco Dorfman and defender Clare Shea added momentum by capturing Big East weekly honors in 2024, while head coach Chris Allen acknowledges the early‑season hiccups but remains convinced those inconsistencies were merely a blip.
The offseason bonding trip to Camp Whitcomb gave the players a chance to reflect on personal goals and rebuild the chemistry that Allen believes will be the foundation of success. The experience seemed to tighten the group’s bond and set a tone of collective purpose.
Nonconference play will test the team early, with exhibitions against Illinois, St. Thomas, North Dakota State and a home opener versus Truman State. Adding a personal storyline, Allen’s daughter will be suiting up for the Bulldogs in that opening match, a detail that has sparked extra excitement among the roster.
Freshman goalkeeper Mia Hurd has already logged every minute in spring games, stepping into a role left vacant by injuries, while newcomers such as Kate Vanden Berg, who has returned to Wisconsin for her sophomore year, are eager to face familiar opponents in Fargo.
Defensive reinforcements include junior defender Ida Marhaug and early‑season rookie Ava Jack Shaw, both expected to contribute immediately. The coaching staff is confident that the blend of experience and youthful energy will translate into a cohesive unit ready to compete when Big East play begins in September.