THIS WEEK
The University of Mary women's soccer team embarks on the team's final two-game weekend roadtrip of the season when the Marauders visit Southwest Minnesota State University and the University of Sioux Falls, two teams directly in front of UMary in the Northern Sun standings. The Marauders face the Mustangs in Marshall, MN, on Friday, Oct. 12, at 4 pm. The weekend wraps up Sunday, Oct. 14, against the Cougars in Sioux Falls, SD, at 1 pm.
 
RECORD
The Marauders are 3-6-2 overall and 2-5-2 in the Northern Sun for 13^th place with eight points… The Mustangs are 3-8 overall and 3-6 in the NSIC for nine points and 12^th place… The Cougars are 4-7-1 and 3-5-1 for 10 points and stand tied for 10^th in the league.
 
SIX LEFT
Last weekend signaled the midpoint of the 15-game Northern Sun schedule. The Marauders have just six games remaining in the NSIC and need immediate success to make a run at the playoffs. Currently 13^th in the standings with eight points, the top eight teams qualify for postseason play. UMary is just five points back from a spot in the league tournament. Currently there are four teams tied for sixth place with 13 points. If the season ended today, one of the four would be left home.
 
RUN
If the Marauders had a good weekend run, UMary could jump ahead of both weekend foes SMSU and USF. However road wins are not easy to come by. USF is 3-3-1 at home while SMSU had lost all four home decisions.
 
REWIND
UMary posted a scoreless draw at home against Minnesota Crookston despite owning run of play and dominating the stat sheet… The weekend concluded with a tough 3-1 home loss to #6 Bemidji State. The Marauders held a 1-0 lead until the Beavers scored three times in the final 12 minutes of play.
 
A LOOK BACK
UMary finished the 2017 season with a record of 12-5-1 overall, an increase of eight wins from the previous year. UMary was fifth in the NSIC standings and defeated Minot State 1-0 on the road in the first round of the Northern Sun tournament to advance to the semifinals.
 
FIRST
Junior midfielder Sydney Burrell posted the first goal of her Marauders career against the Beavers. The native of Rexburg, ID, joined UMary this season after playing previously at Sheridan (WY) College.
 
THIRD
Freshman goalkeeper Madisyn Waltman registered her third collegiate clean sheet when she kept Minnesota Crookston off the scoreboard in last Friday's scoreless draw. She also has posted shutouts against MSU Moorhead in a 1-0 win and a 2-0 victory over Wayne State College. She is tied for fifth in shutouts in the NSIC.
 
GOLDEN TOUCH
Caylin Cathey has the golden touch right now. The senior forward has scored six of the Marauders 13 goals this season. She also has two assists for a team-leading 14 points. Her two                                                                      
game-winning goals also pace the program. The All-NSIC player is sixth in the league in goals scored and her 14 points is seventh.
 
HELPING HAND
Sophomore Hannah Richter has proved to be a dangerous offensive weapon for the Marauders from the back row. The defender from Bismarck, ND, has two goals and three assists. She is second on the team in goals and points (7) and leads in assists. Her assist total is tenth best in the NSIC.
 
SUFFOCATING
The Marauders defense allows just 9.9 shots per game. By comparison, the UMary offense is taking 11.7shots/game. Only twice have the Marauders allowed more than 11 shots in a game. Additionally the UMary defense has allowed more than seven shots on goal in game just once with seven games allowing five or fewer.
 
REINFORCEMENTS
Three Marauders limited by injury last year have returned to the pitch. A sophomore, Patricia Martin was limited to just one game last season returned to see significant time in ten of 11 games. Katie Berg and Kacee Bailey, senior defenders who missed all of last year, also have seen action. Berg has played in seven games and started twice. Bailey has played in three contests with one start.
 
SENIOR SALUTE
The Marauders feature five seniors in the starting lineup. Midfielders Caitlin Dooley and Megan Lowery both earned all-conference and all-region honors last season. Forwards Jade Smith and Caylin Cathey received All-Northern Sun honors. The fifth senior is Lisa Swärdh, who has two goals and an assist on the season.
 
SENIOR DAY
The Marauders honored seven seniors prior to Friday's UMary game against Minnesota Crookston. Playing their final season for the Marauders are Kacee Bailey (Rancho Murieta, CA), Katie Berg (Pierre, SD), Caylin Cathey (Billings, MT), Caitlin Dooley (Pontefract, England), Megan Lowery (Hayden, ID), Jade Smith (Rochester, England) and Lisa Swärdh… Berg, Cathey, Dooley, Smith and Swärdh have played their whole collegiate careers for the Marauders… Bailey and Lowery joined the Marauders for their final two seasons.
 
JUNIOR MINTS
As big as a class as the senior class is with seven players, the junior class is even bigger with eight.
 
 
REZA'S PITCH COMEBACK
Reza's Pitch is making a one-day comeback on October 21 when the UMary women's and men's soccer teams have a doubleheader at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. Starting at 11 am, fans can purchase a Reza burger, chips and a water for $10. All money raised goes to the Marauders Armada for UMary student-athlete scholarships.
 
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