MANKATO, MN – A resurgent season for the University of Mary women's soccer team ended in the semifinal round of the Northern Sun tournament. #21 Minnesota State University, tournament host and the top seed, scored in the first minute on the way to a 6-0 Mavericks win over the Marauders.
Making the league playoffs for the first time since 2012, the Marauders reached the NSIC semifinals for the first time since 2008. UMary finishes the season 12-5-2, the program's most wins since producing 16 wins in 2007.
The Mavericks stunned the Marauders in the opening minute. Following a corner kick, Bri Ciacco scored the opening goal from in front of the net just 48 seconds into the contest.
Struggling on the attack,
Caylin Cathey took the Marauders first shot in the 17th minute but the Mavericks soon regained the momentum.
Minnesota State threatened to double their lead in the 22nd minute after the Marauders committed a foul in the penalty box. Facing off against all-conference forward Jenny Hoerter on a penalty kick, UMary senior goalkeeper
Hannah Smith rose to the challenge. Sprawling to her left, Smith smothered the shot to keep the deficit to a single goal.
Two minutes later, though, the Mavericks found the net for a second time, again taking advantage of a corner kick.
The Marauders best scoring opportunity arrived in the 34th minute. Fresh into the game, freshman
Emma Davies found herself in front of the Mavericks net and slid a shot to the left side that glanced harmlessly off the left post.
The Mavericks closed out the first half scoring with a goal in the 38th minute. Minnesota then tallied three more times in the second half.
Hoerter led Minnesota State with a goal and two assists.
The Mavericks (16-2-2) held advantages in shots (22-5), shots on frame (9-1) and corners (7-0).
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