Game Notes WWU Coverage SFU Coverage
Last Week: The University of Mary opened conference play at home as they hosted Saint Martin's University and Seattle Pacific. On Thursday U-Mary took Saint Martin's to double overtime before losing 1-0 on a penalty kick on the 108th minute. Against Seattle Pacific the Marauders surrendered a goal in the 54th minute as they fell 1-0.
This Week: U-Mary will begin a four-game road trip out west that begins with Western Washington on Thursday and #1 Simon Fraser on Saturday.
Last Year: The Marauders split with WWU, with each team winning at home in 2012. SFU beat U-Mary both times they played in 2012. When the two team met in Bismarck, Alex Boyes headed a ball with one second remaining to send the game in overtime. The Marauders went on to fall 3-2.
Game Coverage: There will be live stats for U-Mary's game against Western Washington. Coverage for U-Mary's game against Simon Fraser has not been determined. All game coverage can be found at http://goumary.com/schedule.aspx?path=msoc.
Social Media: You can also follow along with U-Mary men's soccer and general updates on Twitter at @umarysports. Be sure to follow the Marauders' Facebook page as well "Marauder Athletics". You can also follow the team's official accounts on Twitter @umarysoccer and on Facebook "University of Mary Men's Soccer".
Round 1: In their first season participating in a conference, U-Mary finished with a 4-8-2 record in GNAC play in 2012. The Marauders picked up their first conference win in program history in their GNAC debut against Saint Martin's last year. Other highlights included an overtime loss to Simon Fraser who advanced all the way the NCAA Final Four and 1-1 tie to #9 Seattle Pacific.
Round 2: After a 4-8-2 record and a sixth place finish a year ago, U-Mary is poised to move up the ranks of the GNAC with an experienced corps of players. The Marauders will get their first chance against Saint Martin's, the same opponent they beat in their first ever conference game in 2012.
Western Washington: After a fifth place finish in the GNAC in 2012 (6-6-2), Western Washington returns six starters and 14 starters from a year ago and have been picked to finish in the same position by the GNAC coaches in 2013. Senior forward Andrew Weishaar is the Vikings top returning player being named 2nd team All-GNAC in 2012. Weishaar scored six goal and added three assists in 13 conference games last year. Sophomores Kurtis Pederson (D) and Uche Ugwoaba (M) were named All-GNAC Honorable Mention in 2012 and are back for the Vikings in 2013. Junior goalkeeper Keegan Rogers, who notched five shutouts and boasted a 1.29 goaled allowed average, was also named All-GNAC Honorable Mention last year. So far this season the Vikings are 3-2-1 overall and 1-0-1 in GNAC play. Western Washington defeated Northwest Nazarene 2-1 and tied the MSU-Billings last weekend. WWU has outscored their opponents 9-6 so far this season despite their opponents having a 33-21 advantage in shots on goal.
Simon Fraser: The Clan had a historic season last year winning the GNAC and advancing all the way to the NCAA Semifinal. SFU returns eight starters from last year's team and have been slatted to win the GNAC again in 2013 by the coaches. Carlo Basso is Simon Fraser's top returning player being named First Team All-GNAC in 2012. Basso led the GNAC with 14 goals and was named an All-American. Midfielders' Chris Bargholz, Ryan Dhillon were both named All-GNAC Second Team, while midfielder's Jovan Blagojevic and Alex Roweley were named Honorable Mention in 2012. Defender Marco Voegeli was also named All-GNAC Honorable Mention. Despite all their returning talent, the Clan lost 2012 GNAC Player of the Year Michael Winter. So far this season SFU is off to a perfect 6-0 start and has won both of its conference games. Simon Fraser defeated MSU-Billings 2-1 and Northwest Nazarene 2-1 last weekend. The Clan have outscored opponents 21-7 this season and have outshot them 109-49.
Next Week: U-Mary will finish their road trip next weekend as they take on Northwest Nazarene University on Oct. 3 and Montana State University-Billings on Oct. 5.
From Across the Pond: After having a total of seven international players a year ago, U-Mary has added four more and after graduating one now have a total of 10 foreign players. The Marauders have a total of six players hailing from England in Jack West (Mansfield), Alex Boyes (York), Jordan Pearce (Doncaster), Jonathon Sellars (York), James Liddiard (Lichfield Staffs), and Liam Smallwood (York). Two players from Ireland in Rory Pratt (Dublin) and Adam Potter (Waterford) and two players from Northern Ireland in Aaron Mc Elwee (Sion Mills) and Aaron Brennan (Strabane).
Key Returners: The Marauders return nine starters from a year ago, including three 2012 All-GNAC performers in forward Rory Pratt, midfielder Jonathon Sellars and goalie Michael Frenzel. U-Mary also returns their leading distributors in Adam Potter and Aaron Mc Elwee who had nine assists between them. Joe Wood, a junior midfielder who started 13 games and scored three goals in 2012, will also be a key contributor.
Defensive Leadership: A mainstay in U-Mary's lineup for the past three seasons, senior defender Kyle Roesler will anchor the Marauders defense. Named to the GNAC All-Academic Team in 2012, Roesler has appeared in 48 games in his career including 43 starts. Also a member of the GNAC All-Academic Team, Jake Meyer, who has started 20 career games, will help anchor the defense. All-GNAC Honorable Mention goalkeeper, Michael Frenzel has started 32 games in net for the Marauders in his career including two shutout a year ago.
Fresh Faces: The Marauders have added five freshmen, two transfers and a member of the 2012-13 U-Mary basketball team for a total of seven new players. Among those new faces, junior goal keeper Jack West and freshman forward Jordan Pearce are newcomers that will make an impact in 2013. West is a transfer from Genesee Community College where he led the team to a National Championship. Pearce will be a welcomed scoring compliment to all-conference forward Rory Pratt.
Pratt: In his first season competing for U-Mary, Dublin, Ireland native Rory Pratt was the catalysts for the Marauders offense in 2012. Pratt had a team-high eight goals and 17 points. Starting all 18 games, Pratt was named 1st Team All-GNAC.
First Blood: After leading U-Mary and being among the GNAC leaders in scoring with eight goals and three assists in 2012, Rory Pratt has yet to get on the board in 2013.
First of Many: Freshman Jordan Pearce scored his first career goal on Sept. 14 against Texas A&M International.
3: After scoring just four points, on two goals in 2012, Jonathon Sellars, with a goal against Fort Lewis and an assists against Texas A&M International already has three points this season.
Coaches Poll: After finishing sixth in the GNAC a year ago, the coaches have tabbed the Marauders to finish there again in 2013. Simon Fraser, who advanced to the NCAA Final Four received seven of eight first place votes and was selected number one.
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