After a 3-0 loss to UConn on Thursday, Marquette’s women’s soccer team looked to re-enter the winning column Sunday afternoon at Providence.

However, the Friars had other plans as they beat the Golden Eagles 3-1 at Chapey Fields.

This is the second time this season Marquette has been winless on a two-game road trip.

Providence started the scoring in the 12th minute, when second-year forward Meg Hughes shot one from the top of the 18-yard box into the upper left corner. Graduate student midfielder Amber Birchwell had the assist.

Two minutes later, Birchwell had the opportunity to find the back of the net herself, but pressure from the Golden Eagles defense forced the shot to go over the crossbar.

In the 36th minute, Marquette had the opportunity to even the score with a free-kick opportunity, but first-year forward Maggie Starker’s shot was saved by second-year Providence goalie Emma Bodmer.

For the second game in a row, Marquette entered the half-time break with a deficit.

Providence dominated Marquette seven to one in the first half.

In the 52nd minute, as two Golden Eagle defenders arrived, Birchwell passed down the field and found graduate student striker Hannah McNulty who then passed freshman goaltender Marquette Redshirt.

The Brothers had not finished scoring there.

In the 76th minute, while moving up the left sideline, second-year forward Kyla Gallagher came across one in the box where junior midfielder Ava Brandt put a toe on the ball to pass it to- beyond the Easter plunge.

Four minutes from the end of the match, Marquette broke the silence.

In the 86th minute, Starker redirected a shot from college graduate Maddie Monticello for her fourth goal of the season.

Starker’s goal wouldn’t be enough for Marquette to make a comeback as the Friars ‘defense kept the Golden Eagles’ offense hostile in the remaining three minutes.

Providence dominated Marquette 17-7 in the afternoon. The Golden Eagles are now dominated by their opponent 165-147.

This is the second time this season that the Golden Eagles have allowed six or more goals in two games.

Easter finished with two saves in the afternoon while allowing three goals.

With the loss, Marquette now sits fifth in the GRAND EST with four games to go. The Golden Eagles haven’t made the BIG EAST tournament since 2017.

Marquette (7-6, 3-3 BIG EAST) will return to Valley Fields on Thursday to welcome St. John’s at 7 pm CST.

This article was written by Matthew Valente. He can be contacted at [email protected]