BISMARCK, ND – A matter of inches was all that separated the University of Mary and Wayne State College in the home opener and the Marauders first Northern Sun contest of the season. The Wildcats scored a disputed counter in the 69^th minute of the game on their first shot on goal to nudge past the Marauders 1-0.
 
For the first 68 minutes of the game, the Marauders (1-2-1 overall / 0-1-0 Northern Sun) held the Wildcats (4-0-1 / 1-0-1) without a shot on frame. Up to the point of the goal, Mary's defenders had limited Wayne State to just three shots – all in the first half – without a single save needing to be made by Marauders goal keeper Hannah Smith.
 
After a slow offense start, the Marauders found their groove midway through the first half and soon began to apply significant pressure. Caylin Cathey started the roll when she blasted a ball from distance that bounced off the crossbar in the 30^th minute. Less than two minutes later Cathey gathered a long pass that forced Wildcats keeper Kylie Comba to range far out of the net to challenge the attack. Well over 20 yards away from the goal, Cathey hit a hard ball but Comba had closed the gap and at point blank range deflected the shot away. 
 
Mary again nearly broke through in the 39^th minute. With Comba out of position, Patricia Martin's shot was instead stopped at the goal line by a Wildcats defender. Comba, though, would make three more saves before the end of the half and the two teams entered intermission in a scoreless deadlock.
 
Another scoring opportunity went by the wayside in the 63^rd minute. Off a Cathey corner kick, Alexis Nahring was denied when a Wildcats defender again made a team save at the goal line.
 
Biding their time, the Wildcats struck at 68:02 when a Wayne State corner kick triggered by Swenly Galvez found the head of teammate Madison Burgard. The freshman from Bismarck, ND, redirected the ball towards the Marauders net and while it appeared to some that a Marauders defender knocked the ball away before it crossed the end line, officials ruled it a goal.
 
The Wildcats defense then took over, holding the Marauders to just one shot in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
The Marauders left the game with advantages in shots (14-9), shots on frame (7-3) and corner kicks (5-3).
 
Cathey led the Marauders with four shots and two shots on goal.
 
Smith had two saves for the Marauders. Comba was credited with seven for the Wildcats.
 
The Marauders finish their first home weekend at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, when Mary hosts Augustana at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
 
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