MANKATO, MN – The magical late-season run by the University of Mary women's soccer team came to a close in the semifinals of the Northern Sun tournament. After making an impressive climb in the standings and eliminating conference champion Bemidji State University in the opening round of the league tournament, the Marauders season came to a close with a 3-1 loss to Minot State University.
 
Sitting 13^th in the league standings with three weeks to play, the Marauders ran off five straight wins to climb to 8^th in the standings and the opportunity to face Bemidji State, ranked 4^th in the nation, in the first round of the NSIC tournament. After playing to a scoreless draw, UMary advanced to the conference semifinals after winning a shootout with BSU 8-7.
 
In the semifinals the Marauders captured the statsheet but the Minot State Beavers carried the scoreboard. UMary held the edge in total shots (19-16), shots in target (11-9) and corner kicks (9-6) but couldn't capitalize on the available opportunities.
 
The Marauders had the run of play early, keeping the ball primarily in the Beavers half of the field, though both sides had scoring opportunities.
 
Caylin Cathey had a couple attempts in the opening 17 minutes and fellow seniors Megan Lowery and Jade Smith both placed shots on frame but it was the Beavers who struck first. Minot State's Cinthya Samaniego converted a header off a corner kick in the 32^nd minute to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead at intermission.
 
The Marauders nearly pulled even in the 42^nd minute when Lowery's header attempt off a corner serve hit the crossbar.
 
An aggressive start on the offensive end for Minot State allowed the Beavers to double their advantage in the 57th minute when Haley Berryman scored off a helper from Samaniego. Berryman added a second goal in the 80^th minute to seal the Marauders fate.
 
Lowery placed the Marauders on the board in the 83^rd minute, scoring her fifth goal of the season when she converted a corner kick triggered by Cassidy Pierce.
 
UMary kept fighting, launching five more shots and forcing two saves in the last handful of minutes but the Marauders were unable to find the net.
 
Madisyn Waltman, who posted eight shutouts on the season, finished with six saves. Erin Rafferty had eight of the Beavers ten saves.
 
Cathey and Lowery both had ten shots for UMary with a combined five on frame. Sidney Burrell added four. Both shots by Malia Brudvik were on frame.
 
This is the second straight year the Marauders and the Beavers faced off in an elimination game. Last year UMary defeated Minot State on the road in the opening round of the NSIC tournament.
 
UMary finishes the season 8-8-3 overall. Minot State, the 4^th seed in the tournament, is 13-4-3 and will face host and second-seeded Minnesota State University in the NSIC championship game on Sunday, Nov. 3.
 
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