BILLINGS, MT – Showing midseason form in the opening game of the year, the University of Mary women's soccer team dominated all phases of the game to defeat Black Hills State University 2-0 in a neutral site contest.
Tiffany Ohlhauser scored her first career goal and
Madisyn Waltman earned her ninth career shutout in the first of two games for the Marauders at the Rimrock Classic.
The Marauders held a huge advantage in shots. UMary blasted 27 attempts against the Black Hills State defense, including 16 on frame. Keeping a fairly even pace, the Marauders attempted 13 shots in the first half and 14 after intermission.
Defensively the Marauders smothered the Yellowjackets attack, limiting BHSU to a total of four shots with only two on frame.
UMary also held a 3-0 edge in corner kicks.
'We generated lots of opportunities in this game and gave a lot of players quality minutes, which was very valuable for us," said Marauders head coach
Sarah Cook. "We also had a lot of firsts. First team win, first games played for several players, first collegiate goal for a senior, and a shutout. It was a very exciting day for us!"
Taking advantage of a defensive miscue by the Yellowjackets, the Marauders struck first in the 11
th minute. After a takeaway by
Taylor Pettigrew, the senior played the ball forward to
Sidney Burrell. Burrell drove to the top right of the penalty box and unleashed a shot towards the center of the frame, where freshman
Noelle Vigneri was making a run to the front of the net. Attempting to deflect Burrell's shot away from Vigneri, the Yellowjackets defender instead headed the ball past the keeper for an own goal and a 1-0 Marauders lead.
The Marauders doubled their advantage in the 29
th minute. Taking a feed from Pettigrew and Burrell, Ohlhauser took a shot from inside the middle of the goal box and buried the ball into the right side of the frame.
Ohlhauser tied for the Marauders lead in shots and shots on frame with four and three respectively, figures matched by
Malia Brudvik.
Patricia Martin also triggered four shots, placing two on net.
The two goals proved more than enough as the UMary defense kept Black Hills State in check all day. Waltman faced just four shots and stopped the only two attempts that were on frame.
The Marauders wrap up their road trip to the Rimrock Classic on Saturday, Sept. 14, when UMary takes on tournament host MSU Billings in a 4 pm start (3 pm MT).
#marauders#
