WAYNE, NE – A single second half goal ended an 8-game unbeaten streak for the University of Mary women's soccer team as Wayne State College edged the visiting Marauders 2-1.
This is the Marauders first loss in Northern Sun competition this season. UMary slipped to 7-2-3 overall and 6-1-2 in league action and sit 4
th in the NSIC with 20 points. Wayne State improves to 4-6-2 and 4-4-1.
"Soccer is so beautiful and so cruel at the same time," said Marauders head coach
Sarah Cook. "I don't think we did anything wrong in today's match to 'cost' us the game. Wayne State got some good breaks today, which allowed the Wildcats to win the game. Sometimes that's how it goes. There are many challenges within a season you need to persevere beyond to strive for magnanimity. Today is one for us, and I know we will be better for it. These women are resilient.
"
Noelle Vigneri was outstanding today. She scored a beautiful goal off of a beautiful service from
Hannah Richter."
UMary struck first on a tremendous goal by
Noelle Vigneri in the 25
th minute of play off a set piece. With the wind slightly to her back,
Hannah Richter triggered a corner kick from the right side of the Wildcats net. The senior served a perfect ball to the top far side of the goal box to Vigneri, who took the ball out of the air and drove home a shot into the top left side of the net for a 1-0 lead.
The Marauders advantage didn't last long. Just under two minutes later, Wayne State generated its own corner kick. The Wildcats service struck one of the Marauders defenders and deflected into the net for an own goal on UMary, allowing Wayne State to pull even.
The Wildcats grabbed their first lead of the game in the 76
th minute. Following a Marauders foul, Payton Haliburton drove home a free kick from 35 yards out that sailed just under the crossbar and over the outstretched arms of Marauders goalkeeper
Madisyn Waltman.
UMary furiously attacked the Wayne State net over the remaining 14 minutes but couldn't find the equalizer. A shot by
Yasmina Dokara was knocked away by Wildcats goalkeeper Katherine Hageman and a Vigneri shot cracked off the right woodwork as the Marauders fired off three shots and four corner kicks in hopes of pulling even.
The Marauders finished the game with the advantage in shots (9-6), shots on frame (6-3) and corner kicks (10-6).
UMary wraps up its weekend series at Augustana on Sunday, Oct. 17, at 1 pm, in a meeting between the fourth and fifth place teams in the NSIC. The top four finishers in the final standings host the opening round of the NSIC tournament.
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