BILLINGS, MT – Madisyn Waltman broke the University of Mary school record for career shutouts and goals by Kendra Park and Taylor Meyrick headlined a dominant 2-0 opening day victory for the Marauders over Black Hills State University.
 
Rio Spruenken had an impressive collegiate debut as the freshman from Germany assisted on both UMary goals in the first game of the 2022 Rimrock Classic in Memory of Trever Wildberger, hosted by MSU Billings.  
 
The Marauders opening goal was a thing of beauty as seven straight uninterrupted touches led to an end-to-end breakout for UMary.
 
Following a ball played by a Marauders defender to Waltman, the UMary goalkeeper reversed the flow with an outlet pass to the right sideline. Two subsequent passes found Yasmina Dokara at midfield, from where the senior captain played the ball forward from the circle down the right sideline into open space for Rio Spruenken. After outsprinting the Yellow Jackets to the ball, the freshman midfielder dribbled uncontested deep into the penalty area before centering a crossing pass to the front of the net.
 
Left alone atop the goal box, Park tapped home the ball into the left side of the net 20:15 into the contest. The sophomore forward, who led the Marauders in goals last season with five, finished with a game-high nine shot attempts with seven on frame.  
 
A blast from Taylor Meyrick in the 86th minute sealed the Marauders win. Intercepting a breakout attempt by the Yellow Jackets from their own defensive zone, Spruenken held off a BHSU defender to redirect the ball to the left side to Meyrick. Left alone, Meyrick crushed a shot from nearly 35 yards out into the upper reaches of the net, sailing just under the crossbar on the right side of the goal.
 
The shutout was the 26th career clean sheet for Waltman. A starter since opening day of her freshman season in 2028, the 2-time All-Northern Sun performer made four saves in the game as the Marauders defense kept the Yellow Jackets attack in check all game.
 
The former record of 25 shutouts was held by Kristen Werner during an impressive run from 2001-04 that included NAIA national tournament appearances for the Marauders.
 
UMary held impressive advantages in shots (20-4), shots on goal (13-4) and corner kicks (8-1). \
 
The Marauders close out the 2-match Rimrock Classic with a match against host MSU Billings on Saturday, August 27. Game time is 4 pm CST/3 pm MT.
 
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