MANKATO, Minn. – Facing their biggest challenge of the season without their best player, the University of Mary women's soccer team fought valiantly against 6
th ranked Minnesota State University. After allowing an early goal, the Marauders kept the Mavericks off the board again until late in the first half and end of the game in a 3-0 MSU win.
Marauders all-conference midfielder
Michelle McGeary missed the Mavericks contest. After scoring her first goal of the season the previous day at Concordia-St. Paul, McGeary suffered an injury later in the contest.
The high-powered Mavericks (10-1-1 overall / 8-0 NSIC) came out firing. After a miss and a save by the Marauders
Bailey Wenz, Lexi Pszanka posted her first goal of the season just 5:36 into the contest.
Five minutes later, the Marauders (1-9-1 / 1-8-0) created their own offensive flurry. Following a save on a
Mykala Benjamin shot by Mavericks goalkeeper Lauren Hoeppner, the Marauders couldn't bury the ball off two corner kick attempts.
Both teams continued to trade shots with neither changing the scoreboard. A foul on Minnesota State provided a free kick attempt for
Emily Christensen but her shot sailed high in what proved the Marauders final chance to find an equalizer. The Mavericks scored less than two minutes later to double the lead to 2-0 on a goal by Julia Zach in the 39
th minute.
The second half belonged to the Mavericks, who outshot the Marauders 14-2 and scored the final goal of the game with six minutes remaining.
Benjamin attempted four shots for U-Mary with one on frame. The Marauders had seven total shots with two on frame to the Mavericks totals of 28 and 11. MSU also held a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.
Wenz recorded eight saves in the game. Hoeppner posted a clean sheet by making two saves.
After concluding the last full weekend road trip of the season for the Marauders, U-Mary returns home to host five of their final six games at MDU Resources Community Bowl. The home stand begins Saturday, Oct. 17, against St. Cloud State.
#marauders#
