Women's Soccer | 9/26/2014 11:28:00 PM

THIS WEEK: The epic University of Mary home stand continues this weekend when the Marauders celebrate their seniors with a pair of Northern Sun contests. Senior Day is set for Saturday, Sept. 27, when U-Mary hosts the University of Sioux Falls. An eight-game home stand concludes on Sunday when Southwest Minnesota State University visits. Game time is 1 p.m. at Reichert Field both days.

RELOCATION TO REICHERT FIELD
Originally planning to play just one game at Reichert Field, the Marauders have decided to make a weekend of it as U-Mary trades in the field turf of the MDU Resources Community Bowl for two games on grass. Saturday is a doubleheader honoring the senior players as the U-Mary men's team hosts Saint Martin's University following the Marauders-Cougars women's game. The Marauders-Mustangs match is Sunday's lone contest at Reichert Field, which is part of the Cottonwood athletic complex.  

SENIOR SEND-OFF
The Marauders honor their five seniors on Saturday: forward Barbara Bakh, defender Blaire Brookshire, goalkeeper Shelby Buttron, forward Andrea Muller and forward Loren Sellers. Brookshire and Muller came to U-Mary as freshmen. Buttron has been with the Marauders four seasons after transferring from South Dakota State. Bakh is in her third season at U-Mary after transferring to the school. Sellers transferred to U-Mary for her senior season.    

THE RECORDS: The Marauders are 1-2-3 overall this season and 0-1-2 in Northern Sun play... The USF Cougars  are 0-5-1 overall and 0-3 in the NSIC... The SMSU Mustangs are 3-3 and 2-1 in the NSIC.

LAST WEEK: The Marauders played a pair of overtime contests, dropping a heartbreaking 2-1 match to Bemidji State before playing Minnesota Crookston to a 1-1 draw.

OPPOSITION: The University of Sioux Falls is still looking for their first win after a tie in the opening game followed by five straight losses. After playing Nebraska Kearney to a 1-1 draw, the Cougars have lost all five games by at least two goals and have been outscored 24-4. USF opened the season with five home games in six outings. Ciera Howerton is the offensive leader for USF with two goals... Coming off an appearance in the NCAA sweet 16 last season, Southwest Minnesota State is expected to compete for another playoff berth. Through six games the Mustangs have suffered a couple tough losses, 3-1 to #1 ranked Grand Valley State and a 2-0 loss to #2 Minnesota State. Miranda Cadena is off to a hot start, scoring five goals and adding two assists for 12 points in just six games. Autumn Hayes is 2-for-2 on penalty kicks and has three goals. Brienna Dehkes earned NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year honors as a freshman last season but is allowing 2.00 goals per game with a .643 save percentage.     

HISTORY: The Marauders have won the last four meetings against the Cougars, including a 3-0 win last season that featured Andrea Muller scoring the game-winning goal.... U-Mary hold a commanding 10-2 series edge against Southwest Minnesota State. In a series that started in 1997, the Marauders won the first nine games before the Mustangs claimed a 2-1 win in 2011. During that nine game stretch, the Marauders allowed just two goals with seven shutouts. U-Mary is 4-0 in games played in Bismarck, N.D., and 2-0 on neutral sites. Both losses have come in Marshall, Minn.
 
EPIC EIGHT
This weekend the Marauders conclude an epic eight game home stand to start the 2014 season. The team will make its first road trip of the season when they play at Upper Iowa on Oct. 3 and at Winona State on Oct. 5. U-Mary then returns home to host Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State on Oct. 11-12.

WORKING OVERTIME:
The Marauders have played four overtime games this season in six outings, with three ending in a draw and one a heartbreaking loss. The last three times out have resulted in extra time going on the clock. The run started with a scoreless tie against Minot State. Last Saturday against Bemidji State the Beavers converted a penalty kick with 1:22 left in the first overtime for a 2-1 win. U-Mary responded the next day with a 1-1 draw against Minnesota Crookston.

LEADERS
Several Marauders among Northern Sun statistical leaders. Michelle McGeary and Andrea Muller are tied for 8th in goal with three. Loren Sellers is 4th in assists with 3.