University of Mary Athletics

Nicole Benedict
Outstanding Athlete
Women’s Soccer 2002-2005

The all-time University of Mary record holder for goals scored in a career and a season, Nicole Benedict possesses all the necessary attributes to make her the first U-Mary women’s soccer player to gain admittance into the Marauders Hall of Fame.

A first team NAIA All-American in 2003 while earning Player of the Year honors for NAIA Region III, Nicole also earned honorable mention All-American honors in 2002 and 2004 while leading U-Mary to three straight NAIA national tournaments (2002-‘04). In her four seasons, the Marauders finished a combined 51-29-8. During their playoff run, U-Mary went 14-6-2 in 2002, 14-8-2 in 2003, and 15-7-2 in 2004, while outscoring the opposition by a combined 184-90. 

Twice named the Marauders most valuable player, Nicole set a school record for goals with 27 in 2003, and followed up with 24 goals in 2004. In addition, her single season point total of 60 in 2003 (27 goals and six assists) and 56 in 2004 (24 goals and eight assists) are the second and third best single season totals in Marauders history.

Nicole’s 66 career counters are 23 more than the next closest scorer on the list. Her 153 career points (66 goals, 21 assists) earned her the top spot on the school charts by a margin of 37 points. Her 21 career assists put her at 10^th best in the school annals.

An NAIA Scholar-Athlete in 2004, who served as a Marauders assistant coach for one season and a graduate assistant coach for two more, Nicole earned a bachelor’s degree in university studies in 2007 and an M.S. in occupational therapy in 2010. The daughter of Curtis and Becky Benedict, Nicole hails from Bismarck, ND, where she graduated from Bismarck High School. She currently is an occupational therapist in Phoenix, AZ.