Marquette Women’s Soccer Names Lili Berg as Assistant

Berg’s Playing Career and Achievements

Lili Berg, a New Berlin native, spent four seasons (2020‑2023) as a goalkeeper for Bowling Green, appearing in 66 matches. During her time with the Falcons she posted a career goals‑against average of 0.96 and a save percentage of .794. Berg helped Bowling Green capture the MAC regular‑season and conference tournament titles in both her freshman and sophomore years, earning NCAA tournament berths each season. She is now the second‑most recent player on Marquette’s roster to have competed in the NCAA tournament, trailing only head coach Chris Allen, who assisted Saint Louis on its 2023 Sweet 16 run. Berg also has professional experience in Iceland and Australia, and this marks her first opportunity coaching at the Division I level, coming off a season in which she was still playing professionally.

Reactions from Allen and Berg

Coach Allen praised Berg as “a Milwaukee native” who “has competed at the highest levels of the game” and “lifted trophies throughout her career.” He highlighted her ability to mentor goalkeepers and her “wealth of knowledge, energy, and passion for developing student‑athletes.” Berg expressed gratitude for the chance to join the program, crediting Coach Allen’s belief in her abilities. She emphasized her desire to help student‑athletes reach their full potential both on and off the field while building “meaningful relationships” and pursuing championships together.

Timeline of Staff Changes

June 9 2026 saw Marquette and Chris Allen announce Calum Mallace as the new associate head coach, replacing Jennifer Wandt, who moved to an assistant role at South Florida. At that moment Mallace was listed alongside Allen and assistant Jacqueline Baetz. By July 8 2026, Baetz was no longer on the official roster, and Lili Berg had taken her place. With the 2026 preseason exhibition just one month away, the exact reason for Baetz’s departure remains unclear, and the university has not released further details.

Program Context and Coaching Stability

Allen’s record over two seasons sits at 13‑18‑7 overall and 6‑10‑4 in Big East play. He inherited a program that had not appeared in the conference tournament for six consecutive years and added two more missed appearances under his watch. The 2026 campaign marks the ten‑year anniversary of Marquette’s last NCAA tournament run, with only two winning seasons recorded since then and none after 2021. The frequent turnover of assistants since early June has introduced a notable period of instability for a squad that could ill‑afford it.

Big East Outlook and Future Hopes

The Big East conference is shaping up to be wide open after several top performers from the previous season have moved on. This transient landscape gives Allen and his squad a realistic chance to reshape their standing this fall. If the team begins to climb the standings, the specifics of how the coaching staff was assembled may become less relevant to fans and analysts alike.

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