Rose Lavelle proved to everyone at the McClimon Complex why she is the No.1 player in the country, as she led Wisconsin (9-8-4) to a 1-0 victory over Marquette (12-2-8) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Lavelle scored the lone goal in the 30th minute for the Badgers with a bomb off the edge of the 18-yard box that beat Marquette goaltender Maddy Henry at the far post. The goal added one to Lavelle’s team-leading tally of six goals on the season.
Junior goaltender Caitlyn Clem was not tested much in the first half; the only real chance Marquette had was a long-range shot from Caroline Fink that sailed straight into Clem’s hands.
The second half of the game was rather uneventful for both sides, save for two dangerous shots from Lavelle and a shot from Marquette’s Leah Celarek that Clem had to give everything she had to deflect as the game wound down.
Wisconsin also won a dominant statistical battle throughout the game, leading 11-6 in shots, 5-3 in shots on goal, and 12-2 in corners. Clem finished with five saves and the shutout, two more than Marquette’s Henry.
The Badgers will move on to the second round and play at No.1 seed Florida within the next week.
