BISMARCK, ND – A resurgent University of Mary women's soccer team concludes a three-game home stand on Friday when St. Cloud State visits. Game time is 7 pm at the Sanford Sports Complex, which is adjacent to Legacy High School.
 
Behind an impressive defense, the Marauders are off to their best start since 2007. UMary is off to a 5-2-2 start this season, including a 3-2-2 mark in the Northern Sun. The 2007 squad raced out to a record of 6-3 on the way to the program's lone NCAA tournament appearance.
 
Halfway through the season, UMary has already exceeded its win total for each of the last two seasons.
 
After last weekend's blanking of Southwest Minnesota State, the Marauders have three shutouts and have yet to allow more than one goal in a game. UMary is fourth in the NSIC in goals allowed/per game at 0.67. Both Marauders losses this season were by 1-0 scores.
 
Megan Lowery posted three goals and an assist on the weekend, having a hand in all four Marauders goals. She scored the first two goals of the game and assisted on the third in the 3-0 win over Southwest Minnesota State. The junior forward tallied the lone counter in a 1-1 draw with Sioux Falls, scoring on a headed in the 88th minute. She now leads the team in goals this season with five. In her last three games she has scored four times.
 
Jade Smith scored the only other goal of the weekend for the Marauders and also picked up a goal and an assist in the win over SMSU.
 
Elizabeth Patterson spearheaded a Marauders defensive effort that allowed one goal in two games, gave up just 12 shots and only eight shots on frame.
 
Hannah Smith and Karleen Pappert combined for the Marauders third clean sheet of the season against SMSU. Smith had five against Sioux Falls, including stopping a breakaway late in the second overtime to preserve the draw.
 
A split weekend, the Marauders travel to the University of Minnesota Duluth on Sunday, Oct. 8.
 
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