The ends of Marquette women’s lacrosse practices often consist of loud, physical scrimmages between half the roster in blue and the other half in white.
As the rest of the divided team bark and cheer over the result of each possession, the three goalkeepers — Mikayla Yang, Zoey Gottlieb and Jillian Howell — will gather in a quiet, multi-shade huddle, share a laugh, and send one forward to take her turn in the net.
Sitting 3-3 through 6 games, the Golden Eagles’ goalkeeping room has been as collaborative as it has been fluid, with an even mix of minutes from exciting youth and a reliable veteran presence.
But just as important as the on-field results, is the relationship within the unit.
“They’re like three peas in a pod,” head coach Meredith Black said. “They compete, but they always have each other’s backs.”
Yang, a junior from California, in her third season with the program, has featured in eight games during the 2025 season behind the tutelage of then-starter Brynna Nixon.
Gottlieb is a sophomore from Ohio and has been praised by her coaches and peers as a constant competitor and leader since joining the program last season.
Howell is the freshest face to the unit, and one of the many cogs in Black’s highly emphasized first-year class.
Thus far in the 2026 campaign, minutes have been split nearly even between Yang (five games played in, 150 minutes) and Howell (six games played in, 210 minutes), while Gottlieb remains a steady presence in training as she still seeks her first appearance.
Black described preseason practices as ‘neck and neck,’ with Yang and Howell standing out in stacking saves. Rather than rush to name a permanent starter, the staff leaned into competition and found two players who were both prepared for and capable of handling the moment.
“Mikyala’s an awesome goalie,” Black said. “Starting her early made sense with her experience, but Jilly pushed the envelope and earned that time too.”
After spending her first two years behind veteran starters, Yang stepped into a different kind of spotlight this spring. The transition required composure — not just in the cage, but in the locker room and during drills, where younger teammates now look to her for cues and consistency.
“The dynamic has stayed the same,” Yang said. “We’re super supportive and play for each other.”
Leadership, she explained, is centered on selflessness. Being able to embrace the rotation rather than resist it has allowed her to focus on preparation and communication instead of ownership.
“Everyone brings a different asset,” Yang said. “Knowing your role helps the team.”
Black has noticed that evolution in real time, particularly in how Yang balances a quieter demeanor with steady direction during defensive sets.
“She’s done an amazing job,” Black said. “She’s supportive and has taken them under her wing.”
While Yang brought experience, Howell brought an immediate poise and decisiveness that opened the eyes of every player and staff member around her. The first-year arrived in the fall and quickly closed any perceived developmental gap, earning trust from her peers and defenders.
“She’s playing at a very non-freshman level,” Black said. “She keeps a cool head no matter the score.”
Howell credits her fellow goalkeepers for easing her adjustment to the college pace. Rather than feeling pressure to claim the crease, her ever-supportive teammates have allowed her to focus on daily improvement and shared accountability.
“I came in just trying to do what I can,” Howell said. “Having that goalie support system has been awesome.”
Where Black often sees a trio of quiet contributors, the goalie room runs on an unseen and emotional competitiveness in the cage.
“Fun and well balanced,” Gottlieb described it. “We compete, but friendships matter just as much.”
For the sophomore, the unit’s evolution has been seriously meaningful.
A year ago, she absorbed guidance from her predecessor Nixon. Now, she helps cultivate connections within a position group that can easily drift into isolation. Inside jokes, extra reps and intentional check-ins have strengthened the trio’s bond beyond weekly rotations.
“It’s easy to feel separated,” Gottlieb said. “So we make sure we stay connected.”
In goalkeeper-only sessions and those breaks in between scrimmage plays, the trio blends productivity with personality. They make a point of celebrating saves together and supporting from the sideline regardless of who makes the play — reinforcing just how much of a team effort goes into the momentum that keeps the Marquette goal spotless.
“Everyone has unique qualities, even at the same position,” Yang said. “It’s about applying your strengths and working on your weaknesses together, because we’re all geared to help each other get better.”
This article was written by Eamon Bevan. He can be reached at eamon.bevan@marquette.edu or on Twitter/X @EamonBevanMU.