BILLINGS, MT – Unable to take advantage of some early scoring opportunities, the University of Mary women's soccer team came up short in the season opener. The Marauders allowed four goals in the first half on the way to a 5-0 loss to the Western State College Mountaineers in a neutral site contest held in Billings, MT.
 
The first game of the season for Mary, it was the third match for Western (2-0-1).
 
The Marauders pressed the Mountaineers early. Megan Searson's shot from inside the box less than five minutes into the game was stopped by Mountaineers goalkeeper Katie Simpson-Johnson. Following a Mary corner kick, Michelle McGeary's scoring attempt inside from in close on the right wing was also turned away.
 
Western countered and used a Mary defensive miscue to score the game's opening goal. After the Marauders keeper and a defender collided in front of the net, Francesca Rand gathered up the loose ball and scored from inside the box for a 1-0 Mountaineers lead in the 10^th minute.
 
Mary continued to apply pressure, outshooting Western 6-1 in the next ten minutes and generating a second corner kick. The Mountaineers responded with their second goal of the game at 22:32. Taking just their third shot of the game, Ingrid Alvarez tallied from 35 yards out. Just 2:22 later, Western scored off a corner kick for a 3-0 lead. Western would later add goals in the 37^th and 54^th minute.
 
McGeary, the Marauders team captain, took four shots, including a team-high three on frame.
 
The Marauders generated 11 shots in the contest with four on target. The Mountaineers took 12 shots with nine on frame.  Mary held a 3-1 edge in corner kicks. Western was whistled for 15 fouls to six for UM.
 
Mary next faces host MSU Billings in another non-conference game on Saturday, Sept. 10. The two teams played to a scoreless draw in Bismarck, ND, last season.
 
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