Friday evenings on a college campus are usually for exhaling. The week is done, the gear is stashed, and for athletes like Noah Snyder and Scott Michaud, it should have been a time to prep for the upcoming season or just grab food with the guys.
Instead, September 5, 2025, became a date that redefined the Marquette University community in the worst way possible.
It’s been months since that horrific crash at 27th and St. Paul, but if you walk through Milwaukee or talk to anyone in the lacrosse world, the names Noah and Scott aren't just statistics. They are symbols of a massive, unfillable void. We aren't just talking about "student-athletes" here. We’re talking about a kid from New York who lived for his Haudenosaunee heritage and a goalie from Ohio who was probably going to be your future anesthesiologist.
What Really Happened That Night
The details are still hard to stomach. Around 5:00 PM—just a few blocks from the safety of campus—an SUV carrying six Marquette students was T-boned by a pickup truck.
The driver of that truck, a 41-year-old woman, didn't just make a mistake. She was allegedly intoxicated. Records later showed she had a prior conviction for the same thing. Because of that choice, two lives were extinguished instantly, and three other teammates were sent to the hospital with injuries that, while non-life-threatening, will likely haunt them forever.
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It’s the kind of senselessness that makes you angry. One person’s recklessness erased two decades of potential in a split second.
Noah Snyder: More Than an Attackman
Noah wasn't just another guy on the roster. At 20 years old, he was a sophomore in the College of Business Administration, but his real resume was written on the field and in his bloodline.
Hailing from Getzville, New York, Noah was a proud member of the Haudenosaunee Nationals. For those who don't know, that’s a big deal. He didn't just play lacrosse; he played the "Creator’s Game." He had recently come back from the World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship in South Korea, where he helped his team take fourth place.
His coach, Desi Gonzalez, put it best: Noah was the guy everyone wanted to be like. He was quiet but intentional. He was one of six siblings. Imagine that dinner table now. It’s a loss that vibrates far beyond Milwaukee, reaching all the way to the Westtown School in Pennsylvania and the tribal lands where he was a rising star.
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Scott Michaud: The Goalie with the Plan
Then there’s Scott. Nineteen years old. A sophomore from Springboro, Ohio.
If you’ve ever met a lacrosse goalie, you know they’re usually a bit different—brave, a little crazy for standing in front of 90 mph rubber bullets, and usually the backbone of the team. Scott was all of that. But off the field, he was a biomedical sciences major. He didn't just want to play sports; he wanted to be an anesthesiologist.
He was the kid who made the 75-minute trek to Columbus three times a week just to play for his club team, Resolute. People remembered his smile first. It’s cliché, sure, but in Scott’s case, everyone actually says it. He was named to the Big East All-Academic Team his first year. He was doing everything right.
Why This Story Sticks
The tragedy of Noah Snyder and Scott Michaud resonated because it felt so close to home for anyone who has ever been a student or a parent.
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The university’s reaction was immediate. They didn't just put out a press release; they shut everything down. All home athletic events were canceled. The Varsity Theatre was so packed for their memorial Mass that people were literally lining the walls because there wasn't a single seat left.
You saw the #88 and #43 stickers everywhere. You saw the sidewalk chalk at Central Mall. It wasn't just "thoughts and prayers." It was a collective, heavy grief.
The Legal Fallout and What Comes Next
The driver, Amandria Brunner, was charged with two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. In Wisconsin, the legal system is often criticized for being "light" on first-time OWI offenders, but this wasn't her first brush with the law. The community is watching the 2026 court dates closely. There is a palpable demand for accountability—not out of vengeance, but because Scott and Noah deserved to grow old.
Actionable Takeaways for the Community
When we look at the legacy of guys like Noah and Scott, it’s easy to feel helpless. However, their story serves as a massive wake-up call in a few specific areas:
- Rethink the "Buzz": If you’re a student at Marquette or any urban campus, use the resources. Uber, Lyft, or the university’s LIMO service exist for a reason.
- Support the Foundations: Look into the Haudenosaunee Nationals or local lacrosse scholarships in Springboro. Keeping their names on trophies and jerseys is how they stay alive.
- Advocate for Road Safety: The intersection of 27th and St. Paul has been noted by students as a "reckless" area. Pushing for better traffic calming or increased enforcement in campus-adjacent neighborhoods can prevent the next memorial.
- Academic Excellence: Both Noah and Scott were Big East All-Academic Team members. They proved you could be a high-level athlete and a serious student simultaneously.
We talk about Noah Snyder and Scott Michaud today because their lives weren't just about the way they died. They were about the 19 and 20 years of work, laughter, and ambition they put in before that Friday night. Honor that by being responsible, by playing hard, and by never taking the "boring" drive home for granted.
Next Steps for You
To truly honor their memory, consider donating to the Marquette Men's Lacrosse Excellence Fund or supporting the Haudenosaunee Nationals development programs, which help young indigenous athletes follow the path Noah Snyder blazed.