GAME NOTES

THIS WEEK: University of Mary hosts Bemidji State University and the University of Minnesota Crookston in the first full weekend of Northern Sun competition. The Marauders open the weekend by facing the Beavers on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m. U-Mary then takes on the Golden Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m. Both matches will be played at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.

THE RECORDS: The Marauders are 1-1-2 overall this season and 0-0-1 in Northern Sun play... The Beavers are 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC... The Golden Eagles are 1-2-1 overall and 0-1 in the NSIC.

LAST WEEK: The Marauders played a dizzying three home games in five days. U-Mary opened the stretch with a 2-2 tie against #21 Central Missouri, followed by a 4-1 win over Southern Nazarene and a 0-0 draw with Minot State in the Northern Sun opener.

OPPOSITION: Picked to repeat their sixth place NSIC finish from a year ago, Bemidji State returns one all-conference selection, third team GK Sonja Barr. The senior has a 0.92 goals against average with a .895 save percentage. Sarah Strum and Christine Szurek headline the Beavers attack, each posting two goals with one game-winner apiece... Sophomore Lexie Gauger has had a solid season in goal for Minnesota Crookston. In four games she has a 1.34 goals against and a .706 save percentage with one clean sheet. Junior Courtney Armborst is a dangerous offensive weapon for the Golden Eagles, already posting five goals this season. She has scored in three of UMC's four games. In addition to three goals against Finlandia, Armborst scored the tying goal in a 1-1 draw against Northern Michigan.   

HISTORY: In a series that started in 1997, U-Mary holds a commanding 12-4-1 edge over Bemidji State, including a 7-1-1 mark all-time at home. BSU's lone win in Bismarck was a 2-1 overtime victory on Oct, 20, 2007. The Beavers captured last season's match 5-0... U-Mary is 7-1-1 against Minnesota Crookston since the Marauders joined the Northern Sun in 2006. The Marauders are undefeated at home against the Golden Eagles in four outings. UMC played the Marauders to a scoreless draw at Crookston, Minn., last season.

BREAK THROUGH: After losing to Central Missouri the first three times the Marauders had played the Jennies, U-Mary had a breakthrough with a 2-2 tie against the nation's 21st-ranked team. Twice the Marauders fought back after falling behind. Michelle McGeary had a great run to tie the contest 1-1 late in the first half. Trailing again late in the game with a corner kick upcoming, Marauders goalkeeper Shelby Buttron abandoned her post and set up in front of the Jennies net. After a couple solid scoring chances by the Marauders were thwarted, Buttron cleaned up a rebound in front of the net for her first career goal in the 82nd minute to knot the game at 2-2.

FLURRY: The Marauders posted three goals in a matter of 5:14 to defeat Southern Nazarene 4-1. Michelle McGeary scored her second goal of the season and the game's first at 28:51. Freshman forward Alyssa Dollinger tallied her first collegiate counter at 30:50 and Destiny Glaser, a junior defender, scored her first collegiate goal on a header at 34:05, heading in a perfect  off a perfect corner kick served by Emily Christensen.                                           

ZEROS: For the second straight season, U-Mary and Minot State played to a scoreless tie. Shelby Buttron posted four saves to earn the shutout. Andrea Muller had four shots, none on frame, and Michelle McGeary and Loren Sellers both had two shots on frame. This was the third straight regular season game between the Marauders and the Bears that was scoreless after regulation. Muller gave the Marauders a 1-0 win by scoring in overtime in 2012.

HELPING HAND: Senior forward Loren Sellers, a transfer from the University of Wyoming, has made an immediate impact on the Marauders offense. Sellers picked up assists on U-Mary's first three goals of the season. Against Minot State she had two shots on goal.

HOME COOKING: The Marauders open the 2014 regular season with eight straight home games. After three straight non-conference contests, the Marauders are now in the midst of five straight Northern Sun games. The Marauders don't travel until visiting Upper Iowa and Winona State on Oct. 3-4. The team then immediately returns for two more home games.  

CITY TOUR: The Marauders play home games at three different fields this season. While the bulk of games are at the MDU Resources Community Bowl, U-Mary played Southern Nazarene at Shiloh Christian and will tangle with the University of Sioux Falls at Reichert Field.