The No. 23 Georgetown University women’s lacrosse team opened Big East play in a dramatic fashion March 21, rallying for an 11-10 comeback win over the Marquette University Golden Eagles at Valley Fields in Milwaukee.

The Hoyas mounted a fourth-quarter surge on both sides of the field to secure their first Big East win of the season. Georgetown improved its overall record to 6-3 (1-0 Big East), while Marquette fell to 5-4 (0-1 Big East). 

The contest began with a back-and-forth intensity that did not let up. Georgetown scored just 35 seconds into the game, as senior attacker Gracie Driggs converted a free-position shot to give the Hoyas an early edge. 

Marquette responded less than two minutes later with a man-up goal, setting the tone for the first quarter with pendulum-like movement between the teams. A goal from junior attacker Anne McGovern and another from Driggs helped Georgetown maintain its pace, while first-year attacker Molly Davies scored late in the first to even the score at 4-4. 

The Golden Eagles took control in the second quarter, taking advantage of the Hoyas’ mistakes and going on a three-goal run. Despite sophomore attacker Sophia Loschert’s crucial finish in the second quarter, the Hoyas were unable to hold onto the ball for long stretches. Marquette’s heavy pressure resulted in several mistakes for the Hoyas, leading to a Golden Eagles 7-5 lead going into the half. 

Georgetown showed a revitalized defensive presence after halftime. The Hoyas tightened their coverage and began forcing turnovers, with contributions across the unit from sophomore defender Christina King, junior midfielder Reagan Ziegler and sophomore defender Izzy Appelt. Early in the third quarter, Marquette momentarily increased its advantage to 3, but Georgetown responded quickly. Driggs’ assist on a goal by first-year midfielder Betsy Burton ignited the Hoyas’ offense, and junior midfielder Danica Blix’s subsequent goal reduced the margin to 1. 

After Marquette extended its lead to 9-7, Georgetown made a vital comeback in the final seconds of the third quarter. Driggs scored her fourth goal of the afternoon on a man-up feed from Burton, bringing the Hoyas within 1 at 9-8 heading into the last period. 

Georgetown dominated in the fourth quarter. Junior attacker Lauren Steer started the scoring with a composed free-position goal, equalizing the game at 9-9. Driggs scored again less than a minute later, finishing on a pass from Davies to give the Hoyas their first lead since the second quarter. Georgetown kept the pressure, and with 7:37 left, Davies scored the game-winning goal to increase the Hoyas’ advantage to 11-9. 

Marquette responded with a goal to trim the lead to 1 and applied pressure in the final minutes, refusing to go quietly. But when it mattered most, Georgetown’s defense held firm. The defensive unit continuously disrupted Marquette’s flow and cleared the ball well. Graduate goalkeeper Leah Warehime led the effort with multiple pivotal stops down the stretch, including a critical save on a free position. 

Driggs led a well-rounded Georgetown attack with 5 points on 4 goals and 1 assist. Burton added a goal and an assist, while Davies earned 3 points, including the game-winning goal. King dominated the ground ball game on defense, and the Hoyas recorded turnovers from seven different players in a well-coordinated team effort. Warehime finished with 12 saves in the cage, playing a pivotal role in preserving the narrow victory. 

With the win, the Hoyas will return to the Hilltop to host the University of Connecticut Huskies (3-6, 0-1 Big East) on Saturday, March 28, at noon.