Full Release

LAST WEEK: The Marauders finished their five-game homestretch this past weekend as they hosted a pair of conference opponents. The Marauders opened up the weekend (9/15) by defeating the Southwest 3-2. The Marauders jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead as senior M Michelle Jones tacked on a pair of goals in the first six minutes of play. Junior F Alex Bachman-Williams put up a goal on a penalty kick midway through the first to extend the lead to 3-0. In the second half SMSU made a run as freshman F Kendahl Fisher scored a pair of goals early. The Marauders would hold on to win 3-2. To wrap up the weekend U-Mary would square off against the NSIC newcomers, University of Sioux Falls, winning 2-1. The first half proved to be a defensive struggle as neither team was able to put one in the net. Sophomore F Andrea Muller, on a header off of a corner, would score the first goal of the game giving the Marauders a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute. Sioux Falls answered just a few minutes later on a penalty kick to even the game at 1-1. The two teams remained deadlocked as the game went into overtime. It was not until the 108th minute that the Marauders broke through as Bachman-Williams nailed the game winner from 30-yards out to make U-Mary 2-0 on the weekend.

THIS WEEK: U-Mary will head on the road this weekend to play a pair of NSIC games. They will start the weekend on Saturday (9/22) against the Winona State Warriors (4-2, 3-0 NSIC). On Sunday the Marauders will finish up with the Upper Iowa University Peacocks (5-1, 2-1 NSIC).

OFFENSIVE SPARK: This past weekend the Marauders offense was at a season best. U-Mary has only scored multiple goals in three games this season, with two of them being this past weekend. With five goals in two games the Marauders scored more than they had all season.

BACHMAN-WILLIAMS HONORED: Two game-winning goals over the weekend to keep the University of Mary undefeated in conference play earned Alex Bachman-Williams the Northern Sun Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors. This is the second time in her career that Bachman-Williams has garnered the award. One of the leading goal scorers in the Northern Sun last year, Bachman-Williams regained her scoring touch over the weekend. Her first goal of the season came on a penalty kick and was the Marauders third goal of the day in a 3-2 win over previously undefeated Southwest Minnesota State. On Sunday the Minot, ND, native blasted home the golden goal in U-Mary's 2-1 win over the University of Sioux Falls, scoring with just 2:59 left in the second overtime.

Winona State, despite having four wins, has only outscored opponents by one on the season. Coming off of two conference wins against Minnesota Duluth and St Cloud State, the Warriors are currently on a four game winnings streak. The eight-time defending NSIC regular season champions are led offensively by All-NSIC senior M Katy Soliday. Soliday, one of four WSU captains, is leading the team in assists and second in points. Defensively Winona is paced by sophomore GK Alexandra Vial. The sophomore earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors after her shutout performances against Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. The U-Mary's record all-time against Winona is 1-4-3 with the most recent game being a 2-1 loss in 2011.

Upper Iowa has allowed just two goals on the season. UIU suffered their only loss of the season against Winona State (9/7) 1-0. Since that loss, the Peacocks are on a three game winning streak including a pair of wins this past weekend against St. Cloud and Duluth. On offense, the Peacocks rely heavily on senior M Elizabeth Kaluzinski. Kaluzinski, an All-NSIC performer last year, is leading the team in goals and points so far this year. On the defensive side, junior GK Amanda Smith has been vital to the Peacocks success. Allowing just two goals on the season, the junior has recorded 26 saves for a .929 save percentage. The all-time series between these two teams is knotted up at 3-3. The Marauders beat Upper Iowa 1-0 in 2011.

ON DECK: Next week the Marauders will be back at home for a pair of games. U-Mary will be tested right way as they take on #8 Minnesota State-Mankato (4-1-1, 3-0 NSIC). Last season the Marauders and Mavericks squared off in Mankato with the Marauders falling 4-1. Next up will be Concordia-St. Paul (2-3-1, 1-1-1 NSIC). The Marauders defeated the Golden Bears 3-1 last year in St. Paul.

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