Women's Soccer | 9/30/2016 4:47:00 PM

THIS WEEK
After a brief stop at home in the midst of playing four out of five games on the road, the University of Mary women's soccer team begins a three-game road trip this weekend with a visit to South Dakota and Minnesota. The Marauders first visit the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 11 am. The weekend double play concludes at Southwest Minnesota State University on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 1 pm.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 1-4-1 overall and 1-3-0 in the Northern Sun… The USF Cougars are 2-5-1 and 2-3-0… The SMSU Mustangs are 3-5 and 2-3.
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders split a pair of conference games, losing 4-1 at Bemidji State University on Wednesday before a home shut out of the University of Minnesota Crookston 2-0 on Sunday… The Cougars lost 4-0 at home to Minnesota State University on Friday before defeating Concordia-St. Paul 1-0 on the road… The Mustangs lost both their matches, 2-1 at home to CSP and 4-0 on the road to MSU
 
ROAD TRIP
The Marauders are in the midst of playing four out of five games on the road. After visiting Bemidji State and hosting Minnesota Crookston in a split weekend, the Marauders next play at USF, SMSU and St. Cloud State. Mary is next home on Sunday, Oct. 9, against Minnesota Duluth.
 
NCAA-RECORD STUNNER
Before fans could even take their seats, Megan Searson set an NCAA all-divisions record when she scored just three seconds into Sunday's 2-0 win over Minnesota Crookston. With a 33 mile an hour wind to her back, the senior from Blackburn, England, took the opening tap from Michelle McGeary and drove the ball 54-yards into the back of the UMC net, just slightly below the crossbar. The previous NCAA Division II record for fasted goal to open a game was seven seconds by Jennifer Prior of Saginaw Valley, scored against Rochester College on Sept. 24, 2003. The NCAA Division I record of :04 occurred twice, by Sylvia Forbes of Purdue against Texas A&M (8.28.09) and Yael Averbuch of North Carolina against Yale (9.3.06). The NCAA Division III mark is :06 by Sara Gross of St. Norbert against Edgewood (9.1.04).
 
BIG DAY
Megan Searson played a major role in both the Mary goals against Minnesota Crookston. In addition to her record-setting counter, she served a perfect ball off a free kick, crossing past the goal to the far side where freshman Kylee Welch headed the ball into the net. It was the first career goal for Welch. 
 
DEFENSE
While the big day by Megan Searson may have dominated the headlines, it was the Marauders defense that dominated the day against the Golden Eagles. UMC managed just one shot with no attempts on frame. Mary didn't allow Minnesota Crookston's lone shot until the 72^nd minute of the game.
 
TAKE A SHOT
While the Marauders may have just six goals on the season, it isn't from a lack of effort. Mary has out-shot its foes in four of six games. Only twice has the opposing team put more shots on frames than the Marauders. Through six games Mary has an 82-67 shot attempt advantage and a 41-37 edge in shots on frame.
 
GUIDANCE
Senior midfielder Michelle McGeary is dangerous whenever she has the ball. She has had a hand in four of the Marauders six goals. The two-time all-conference player has posted two goals and two assists this season. She is fourth in the NSIC in shots/game (4.50).
 
FINDING A GROOVE
After her big game on Sunday, Megan Searson is finding her stride. The senior has two goals and one assist this season and had provided the Marauders a big threat in each game. While she didn't score, Searson attempted ten shots with four on frame at Bemidji State. Against UMC two of her four shots were on goal. For the season she is seventh in the NSIC by taking 3.33 shots/game.
 
UP NEXT
The Marauders visit St. Cloud State on Friday, Oct. 7, and host Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 9.
 
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