BISMARCK, N.D. – One day after senior Mykala Benjamin scored two goals in a win, the University of Mary turned its next game over to a pair of freshmen. Jade Smith and Emily Julian both scored their first career goals to earn the Marauders a 2-2 draw at home against the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs to cap Family & Senior Recognition Weekend.
 
The Marauders opened the weekend with a 2-0 win over St. Cloud State before tying Minnesota Duluth 2-2. It was U-Mary's first unbeaten weekend of the season.
 
"I thought it was a good weekend," said Marauders head coach Sarah McNulty. "We ended with four points for the weekend and we haven't done that all year. I think the only reason we may feel a just little bit down today is we could have won the game. But we have also been in the same position and lost so I was happy to see us not concede and take one point.
 
"Playing games on back to back days is so difficult that we shouldn't be too upset. The girls played well, played hard. There was a lot of growth this weekend and we have things we can build on for next week! It was an exceptional job by Emily Julian to draw the penalty and score a goal today.
 
"A big thank you to all of our parents and family members who made it out this weekend to support our team!"
 
Both teams took turns trading goals in regulation before goaltenders Bailey Wenz of U-Mary and Sisley Ng from UMD took command in overtime.
 
The Marauders struck first in the 42^nd minute. After Minnesota Duluth was whistled for a foul in the box, Smith stepped to the mark and buried the penalty kick into the lower left side of the net for a 1-0 lead. It was the only goal of the first half.
 
In a reversal of fortune, U-Mary was cited for a foul in the penalty area just 3:15 into the second half. Katie Peterson drilled home the penalty kick and knotted the contest at 1-1.
 
A beautiful counterattack allowed the Marauders to regain the lead. Michelle McGeary spearheaded the assault, crashing down the middle of the field. The junior all-conference forward played the ball ahead to junior Megan Searson, who touched the ball left to Julian. Standing alone inside the 6' box, the freshman from Sheridan, Wyo., one-timed Searson's pass into the open left side of the net for a U-Mary 2-1 lead at 57:38.
 
Once again the Bulldogs found a way to pull even when Marissa Ganske broke down the right side and scored at 72:44. The Bulldogs continued the attack, forcing Wenz to make three saves in the next 10 minutes.
 
McGeary almost ended the game in the final three minutes of regulation but Ng snared a hard shot from 15 yards out by the Gillette, Wyo., native.
 
On the first overtime, Wenz sandwiched two saves around a U-Mary scoring effort. The Marauders nearly claimed the game in the 108^th minute on a free kick from Jackie Smith. The senior defender's blast was punched over the net by Ng just as it appeared it would sneak in under the crossbar.
 
U-Mary controlled the pace in the second extra session but was unable to solve Ng.
 
Wenz finished with 11 saves for U-Mary including five in the first half and four in the second. Ng recorded 10 stops, including two in each overtime session.
 
UMD held a 21-16 edge in shots with a 13-12 advantage in shots on goal. UMD also took four corner kicks to three for U-Mary.
 
The Marauders continue their four-game home stand next weekend when Wayne State College and Augustana visit on Oct. 24-25.
 
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