ST. CLOUD, MN – A pair of all-conference performers combined forces to send the University of Mary women's soccer team to the 2023 Northern Sun Women's Soccer Championship game. Olivia Gardner scored off a helper from Mo Malone in the 80th minute of play to give the Marauders the opportunity to play for a conference title and a spot in the NCAA tournament.
 
The #6 seed in the NSIC tournament, the Marauders will face the winner of the other NSIC semifinal, #1 St. Cloud State vs. #4 Bemidji State University. Game time is 2 pm on Sunday, November 12, at Husky Stadium in St. Cloud, MN.
 
This is the Marauders first trip to the NSIC championship game since 2007 when UMary won its second straight Northern Sun tournament title.
 
The Marauders had the run of play throughout the first half, holding an advantage in shots (8-1), shots on goal (3-1) and corner kicks (3-1). UMary nearly broke through a couple times, including a shot by MaLiah Burke that was blocked by a Golden Bears defender in the top right corner of the 6 yard box. Just over a minute later, Eli Olsen cracked a 35 yard free kick off the crossbar. Crashing the net, Gardner's attempted header off the carom just shot over the top of the frame.
 
With both defenses limiting scoring opportunities in the second half, the Marauders finally broke through in the 80^th minute. With Malone making a throw-in from the far left corner, a Concordia-St. Paul defender headed the ball back to the All-Northern Sun defender. Malone immediately lofted a cross towards the Golden Bears net. Gardner beat everyone to the ball, heading a shot from the top left of the goal box inside the left post for the lone counter of the game.
 
For Gardner it was the All-NSIC forward's eighth goal and fourth game-winner of the season, both team highs. The helper was the sixth of the year for Malone, also a team-high.
 
The Marauders defense continued to dominate the game, holding the Golden Bears without a quality opportunity the remainder of the game and sending UMary on to the championship contest.
 
Molly Fischer finished with three saves and recorded her 10^th clean sheet of the season for UMary.
 
The Marauders finished the game with the advantage in shots (10-7) and shots on frame (5-3). Both teams generated three corner kicks. CSP committed 10 fouls to four for UMary and was cited for the only yellow card.
 
UMary improves to 10-7-3 on the season. CSP finishes 9-7-4.
 
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