BISMARCK, ND – It was Senior Day for the University of Mary women's soccer team, and the four seniors made sure it was a day to remember. Senior Alexis Nahring opened the scoring with her first collegiate goal and sophomore Emily Julian posted the game-winner as the Marauders edged visiting Upper Iowa University 2-1.
 
All the Marauders seniors played key roles in the win. In addition to Nahring's goal, Michelle McGeary assisted on the game winner, Megan Searson had two shots and served a corner kick, and Elizabeth Heintzman – making her first career start at home – made three saves in net.
 
Facing one of the top teams in the Northern Sun, the Marauders (2-6-3 overall / 2-5-2 NSIC) relentlessly attacked the Peacocks (7-5 / 6-4) defense all day while effectively bottling up the Upper Iowa attack. Mary held impressive advantages in both shots attempted (20-5) and shots on goal (11-4).
 
Nahring energized her team and the crowd when she cracked open the scoring. After taking a forward ball from Tiffany Ohlhausser, the Ramsey, MN, native beat the Upper Iowa defense around the right corner. Facing Peacocks goalkeeper Caila Petrie 1-of-1, Nahring slid a shot low into the right corner of the net in the eighth minute to put the Marauders in front.
 
The lead proved short-lived. With a ball loose in the box, Heintzman made an initial save on a shot by Jordyn Ostrowski. Maggie Olson then swooped in and knocked the rebound into the net from inside the 6-yard box to knot the game at the 15:05 mark.
 
The Marauders nearly added another goal late in the half but McGeary's scoring attempt off a corner kick was saved by Petrie in the 40^th minute, ensuring the game was even at 1-1 at intermission.
 
Offensive pressure by the Marauders ramped up in the second half, but minutes kept ticking away without a goal. Searson rocketed a shot off the post in the 80^th minute but Mary couldn't follow up.
 
Intent on not going to overtime for a second straight game, the Marauders instead found a goal. After Julian played a ball forward to McGeary, the Marauders senior played a thru ball ahead to the onrushing sophomore. Julian found a gap between defenders on the left side and let loose a shot low past Petrie from 10 yards out into the right corner of the net with 3:21 remaining in the game.
 
Not quite done, Upper Iowa launched a pair of corner kicks but neither resulted in a quality scoring opportunity.
 
Playing with the wind, the Marauders held an 11-1 edge in shots in the second half.
 
Petrie finished with nine saves in the game for the Peacocks.
 
The Marauders conclude their final home doubleheader weekend of the season when they host Winona State University on Sunday, Oct. 16 for Parents Day. Game time is 1 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
 
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