BISMARCK, ND – After just missing on a scoring opportunity late in regulation, Kendra Park buried a golden goal in overtime to life the University of Mary women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over visiting Winona State University to kick off UMary's homecoming week. It was the Marauders fifth straight win, all by shutout, in a game delayed three hours for poor air quality due to haze from forest fires in Canada.
 
The Marauders remain undefeated in Northern Sun play and sit second in the conference standings after three weeks of play. UMary is 6-1-2 overall and 5-0-1 in the NSIC. Winona State slips to 3-5/2-4.
 
"The team endured a major challenge today with the delayed start but they handled it professionally and with continued eagerness to strive for success," said Marauders head coach Sarah Cook. "Winona State is a great team and for us to battle and get the overtime win was a huge confidence boost for us.
 
"Our back line of Noelle Vigneri, Sam Guzman, Cassidy Pierce, Ava Vizenor, Jessica Lemmon, Sophia Lange and Goalkeeper Madisyn Waltman deserve a lot of credit, limiting our opponents to just four shots on goal this weekend. That is remarkable!
 
"Cassidy's persistence today to win back the ball and play Kendra in to goal, and Kendra's finish…was an amazing play!
 
"I'm very proud of the team and we can't wait to have another weekend at home during homecoming as we celebrate our amazing senior class!"
 
Behind a lock-down defensive effort on both sides, neither team was able to generate much offense throughout the game as empty space was difficult to find. The two teams combined for a total of 11 shots with only six on frame. UMary held the advantage in shots (6-5) and shots on frame (3-1). Winona State had the only corner kick and were whistled for more fouls (13-10).
 
UMary had a couple opportunities to score in the second half, both by Park. First the freshman glanced a shot off the crossbar in the early going before another opportunity in the 89^th minute. Taking a pass from Hannah Richter inside the goal box, Park dove in an attempt to put the ball into the left side of the net but a sprawling save by Warriors goalkeeper Alyson Jumper denied the Marauders a goal.
 
The Marauders finally found the net in overtime behind a lightning quick counterattack. Reigning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week Cassidy Pierce intercepted a pass in the UMary defensive zone. After making a couple touches she lofted the ball far downfield. Parks outraced the Warriors and got behind their defensive line. Taking the ball on a hop, she one-timed a chip shot from 30 yards out over the top of Jumper, who had come out to play the long pass, and into the net for the UMary win in the 94^th minute.
 
The goal was a team-leading third of the year for Park.
 
Required to make just one save while stopping several crossing opportunities, Waltman posted the 23^rd clean sheet of her career. She is second all-time in shutouts in UMary women's soccer history, trailing only the 25 by Kristin Werner.
 
UMary continues its four-game home stand when the Marauders open homecoming weekend against MSU Moorhead on Friday, Oct. 8. Game time is 4 pm.
 
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