BEMIDJI, MN – Facing their toughest challenge of the season, the University of Mary women's soccer team stood toe-to-toe with 6^th ranked Bemidji State University. A scoreless game until the 77^th minute, the homestanding Beavers tallied the only goal of the day in a tough 1-0 loss for the Marauders.  
 
Facing one of the top scoring attacks in the Northern Sun, the Marauders defense stifled the Beavers offense for much of the game and only allowed a handful of scoring attempts inside the penalty area with much of the Bemidji State attack coming from distance.
 
A scoreless first half featured just five combined shots. While BSU held a 3-2 edge in shots, the Marauders placed both their shorts on frame to one for the Beavers and attempted both corner kicks.
 
Bemidji State began pushing hard in the second half but was continually thwarted by the UMary defense and goalkeeper Madisyn Waltman.    
 
Taking advantage of a crack in the Marauders defense, Sara Wendt took a forward pass from Erin Becker down the left flank just outside the penalty area. After a couple touches, Wendt rolled a shot from just atop the left corner of the goal box to inside the right post at 76:53 for her 16^th goal of the season.
 
UMary had one final opportunity to find an equalizer but couldn't connect off a corner kick in the 88^th minute.
 
The Beavers finished the game with a 17-5 edge in shots but only managed one more shot on frame than the Marauders (6-5). UMary held a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks but was also whistled for more fouls (9-5).
 
Five different Marauders took shots in the match, and all five attempts were on goal.
 
Waltman finished the game with five saves for UMary.
 
With two games left in the regular season, the Marauders are 8-5-3 overall and 7-4-2 in the Northern Sun. UMary remains in 5^th place and looks to move into one of the top four spots to host an opening round game in the NSIC tournament. Bemidji State is 14-0-2 overall and leads the NSIC with a record of 11-0-2.
 
UMary returns home to host the University of Minnesota Crookston on Halloween. The final regular season home game of the 2021 season kicks off at 1 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
 
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