BISMARCK, ND – The Northern Sun tournament may be something new for the current University of Mary soccer players but the Marauders are rolling into the postseason on a tear, winning their last three and four out of five. The Marauders visit Minot State University on Wednesday, Nov. 1, in the opening round of the NSIC playoffs. Game time is 5 pm at Herb Parker Stadium.
 
Making their first tournament appearance since 2012, the Marauders finished fifth in the Northern Sun after UMary was projected to place 12^th in the preseason coaches' poll. The Marauders are 11-4-2 overall and 9-4-2 in league play. This is the Marauders first winning season since 2012 and the most wins in a season since posting 11 victories in 2011.
 


While the Marauders defense has made tremendous strides since last year, the offense is on a tear. UMary has scored at least two goals in each of their last five games and six out of seven.
 
Junior attackers Jade Smith and Megan Lowery both have seven goals for the Marauders this season. Smith also has four assists and Lowery, who joined the team this season after transferring from North Idaho College, has two helpers.
 
Another junior, Caylin Cathey, has been an offensive force for UMary. After scoring two goals last season, she has this this year, including five game-winners. The forward also has a team-best six assists.
 
Additionally, freshman Emma Davies has four goals this season.
 
Defensively the Marauders allow just 0.94 goals per game, the fifth-best total in the NSIC.  Only twice has a team scored more than one goal in a game against UMary. A year ago the Marauders allowed 2.53 goals per contest, last in the league.
 
A pair of seniors, defender Elizabeth Patterson and goalkeeper Hannah Smith, have played a big role in the defensive turnaround. Additionally, UMary has received strong defensive work from junior Caitlin Dooley, sophomore Tiffany Ohlhauser and freshman Cassidy Pierce, among several others.
 
Facing a familiar foe in the Beavers, the Marauders opened the regular season with a 2-1 home win over Minot State to set the tone for the year that has followed.
 
The Beavers, 12-4-2 overall and 11-3-1 in the NSIC, are led by freshman Sofia Lewis, who has an NSIC-leading 12 goals. Goalkeeper Erin Rafferty has a 0.53 goals against average and a .868 save percentage.
 
The two teams are 3-3-3 all-time against one another.
 
The winner between UMary and Minot State plays the winner of the Minnesota Duluth-Minnesota State contest on Friday, Nov. 3, in the NSIC semifinals at a site to be determined.
 
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