BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary will discontinue the school's NCAA Division II men's soccer program. The Marauders are affiliated with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), which does not sanction men's soccer as a sport, nor is there nearby NCAA Division II competition. These logistics have created significant scheduling difficulties for the program, increased costs and reduced the viability for a program that has been an integral and valued part of Marauders athletics for 25 seasons.
 
The decision was announced earlier today. The Marauders concluded their season on Nov. 8 with a match against Brandon University.
 
Scholarship agreements with student-athletes on the team who choose to remain and continue their education at the University of Mary will be honored, even though there will no longer be a men's soccer program. The University of Mary will also assist any men's soccer student-athletes who wish to transfer and continue their collegiate athletic careers. 
 
"The decision to drop the men's soccer program was not easy, nor taken lightly," said University of Mary Director of Athletics Dale Lennon. "A lack of nearby conference affiliation and NCAA Division II competition created an untenable situation. The extensive travel costs to find quality competition continued to rise and opportunities for postseason competition and recognition continued to decrease. Of our 14 games scheduled this season, only nine were against NCAA Division II opponents and our scheduling forced our players to miss 13 days of class."
 
The elimination of men's soccer brings into alignment the University of Mary's 16 remaining NCAA Division II athletic programs, all of which compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
 
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