MARSHALL, MN – The University of Mary has relied on a similar game plan for three straight victories; play dominant defense and find a way to score a goal. The Marauders followed that plan to perfection once again on Sunday in a 1-0 win at Southwest Minnesota State University. The third straight win by a 1-0 score, the Marauders are undefeated in Northern Sun play and jumped into second place at the end of two weeks and four games of league play, all on the road.
 
UMary improved to 4-1-2 overall and 3-0-1 in the NSIC for 12 points in the standings. SMSU is 1-5 overall and 0-4 in league play.
 
Following a scoreless first half, the Marauders broke through in the 60^th minute of play. Following a forward ball played by Noelle Vigneri  to Emma Snider, Snider fought off a Mustangs defender to play the ball over to an open Kayla Alcott on the left side over 30 yards from the home goal. With the SMSU defense collapsing on her, Alcott spotted Hannah Richter slicing through the Mustangs back line at full speed and played a perfect diagonal forward pass to Richter that she gathered in just to the right of the penalty arc.
 
Taking just a couple quick touches, Richter lasered a shot from in front of the penalty mark past the SMSU goalkeeper for the only goal UMary needed.
 
The goal is the All-NSIC attacker's second of the season to tie her for the team lead. Alcott's assist was her team-leading third of the season. Snider earned her first helper this year.
 
The Marauders defensive intensified over the final third of the game, limiting the Mustangs to just two shots with UMary goalkeeper Madisyn Waltman asked to make only one save. She finished the game with four saves total.
 
"Capping off the weekend with another win is just the momentum we were looking for as we end this 6-game road stretch and come back to play at home for the next two weekends," said Marauders head coach Sarah Cook. "Defensively we were so sound on every line today. We had to go deep into our bench this weekend to get the results we did. I am really proud of the group for that and the contribution each and every one of them made. 
 
"Hannah Richter scored a great goal today, with wonderful build up play from Kayla Alcott, Emma Snider, and Noelle Vigneri."
 
The shutout was the 21^st clean sheet of Waltman's career. The junior now stands third all-time at UMary. Kristin Werner is the Marauders career leader in shutouts with 25, followed by Rachel Dietrich (22).
 
The Marauders held a slight advantage in shots (7-6) while both teams fired four shots on frame and had two corner kicks each.
 
After six straight road games – including four straight NSIC games to open league play – UMary plays its next four games at home. The Marauders open their NSIC home slate against Upper Iowa on Friday, Oct. 1. Game time is 3 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck, ND. On Sunday, Oct. 3, UMary hosts Winona State at 1 pm.
 
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