Olivia Gardner looks to score on a header
Clare Trinh

Women's Soccer Brian Larson, Asst. Atheltics Director - Communications

Four game road trip for Marauders starts with stops at UMC, BSU

THIS WEEKEND
Following an unbeaten 3-game home stand, the University of Mary women's soccer team embarks on a 4-game road trip. The weekend opens for UMary with a 3 pm match at the University of Minnesota Crookston on Friday, October 18, in Crookston, MN. The Marauders, currently 3rd in the Northern Sun, visits 2nd place Bemidji State University on Sunday, October 20. Game time is 1 pm in Bemidji, MN.   
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 6-2-2 overall and 4-1-2 in the Northern Sun. UMary is 3rd in the NSIC with 14 points… Minnesota Crookston is 1-8-2 overall and 1-5-1 in the NSIC (12th place with 4 points)… Bemidji State is 8-3 overall and 6-1-0 in the NSIC (2nd place with 18 points).     
 
MIDPOINT
With seven Northern Sun games in the books, the Marauders are halfway through their league schedule. Among the seven remaining games, four are on the road before closing out the regular season with three home games.
 
HISTORY
Since 2009 the Marauders are 9-2-3 against the Golden Eagles against the Huskies, including four straight wins and a 7-match unbeaten string (6-0-1), with a 5-0-2 record at home and 4-2-1 in Crookston UMary defeated visiting UMC 2-0 last season. The Marauders haven't allowed a goal to the Golden Eagles in five straight games… UMary is 3-12-2 against BSU since 2009. The Marauders split a pair of games last year, beating the Beavers 2-1 at home (breaking a run of 11 straight games without a win against BSU) before falling 2-0 in the NSIC tournament championship game.
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders earned four points at home over Senior and Parents/Family Weekend… The Marauders claimed a 1-1 draw with defending NSIC champion St. Cloud State on Senior Day. Ava Vizenor scored the Marauders lone goal in the first half and Molly Fischer preserved the tie with a tremendous save with 64 seconds left in the match… Allison Lepp scored two goals and Rio Spruenken delivered a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over Minnesota Duluth. Spruenken scored on a tremendous effort in the 19th minute. After Kendra Park drew a penalty kick in the 37th minute, Lepp delivered the goal for a 2-0 UMary lead. UMD cut the UMary lead to 2-1 before Lepp scored on a header off a corner kick delivered by Spruenken.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Links to live stats and video found at www.goumary.com/coverage
 
SIX
The Marauders own six shutouts in ten games this season. UMary allowed one goal in the season opener before recording five straight clean sheets. For the season the Marauders have allowed six goals in ten games while scoring 16. The Marauders 1.00 Scoring Margin/game is 3rd in the NSIC. UMary's goals against average of 0.60 is 3rd-best in the league.
 
FIVE ALIVE
After posting 10 shutouts last season, the second-most by an individual in a single season at UMary. Senior goalkeeper Molly Fischer has five this season already to her credit and played 80 of 90 minutes in the Marauders sixth clean sheet this season.
 
95
Marauders head coach Sarah Cook earned her 95th victory at UMary in the Marauders 3-2 win over Minnesota Duluth. A member of the Marauders Hall of Fame after earning All-American honors three times, Cook is in her 13th season after taking over leadership of the program prior to the 2012 season and is the program record-holder for career coaching wins.
 
GOAL!
The Marauders are 4th in the NSIC in scoring, generating 16 goals in ten games, an average of 1.6 goals/game. 
 
IMPACT
Rachel Gensch is off to a tremendous start for the Marauders. The transfer from Sierra College owns three goals and five assists this season for 11 points in nine games. She has three multi-point games (goal and assist against Black Hills State and MSU Moorhead, goal and two assists against Emporia State). The Rocklin, CA, native is second in the NSIC in points per game at 1.22.  
 
WINNER
Olivia Gardner has posted two game-winning goals this season, the second-most among NSIC players. The all-NSIC forward is 10th in the NSIC in scoring with 0.80 points/game (two goals, four assists).
 
ON THE ATTACK
The Marauders feature four of the top 11 scorers in the NSIC this season. Rachel Gensch is 2nd at 1.22 points/game (3G 5A), followed by Rio Spruenken (3G 3A for 9 points), who is 6th in the league at 0.90 points/game. Maliah Burke (3G 2A) and Olivia Gardner (2G 3A) are tied for 10th at 0.80 points/game. Additionally Allison Lepp is 17th at .60 points/game (3 goals).
 
NUMBERS (NCAA RANKINGS) - TEAM
#13 corner kicks/game (6.80)
#17 Shots/game (18.3)
#20 Shots on goal/game (9.1)
#21 Shutout percentage (.600)
#29 Goals Against Average (0.60)
#36 Assists/game (1.70)
 
NUMBERS (NCAA RANKINGS) – INDIVIDUAL
Rachael Gensch
#12 Assists/game (0.56)
#24 Assists (5)
 
Molly Fisher
#14 Goals against average (0.419)
#30 Save Percentage (0.857)
#26 shutouts (5)
 
SENIORS
The Marauders honored nine seniors on Senior Day, Friday, Oct. 11. The nine seniors are Molly Fischer, Ava Vizenor, Andi Hunsicker, Sophia Lange, Mo Malone, Amélie Faa, Kendra Park, Mary Meeks and Kaitlyn Schwass (Student Manager). Fischer, Lange, Vizenor, Park and Meeks played their entire careers at UMary. Hunsicker and Malone competed three seasons and Faa two after transferring to UMary. Schwass also has been at UMary her entire collegiate career, playing two seasons on the pitch.
 
2024 MARAUDERS NSIC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
  • Allison Lepp was named the NSIC Defender of the Week Sept. 16after UMary defeated regional power Emporia Satet 3-0. The defender from Minot, ND, organized a Marauders effort that held the Hornets to three total shots with only two on frame in the win.
  • Mo Malone was the NSIC Defender of the Week Sept. 23 after the Marauders defeated Minot State 1-0 and MSU Moorhead 4-0. The Marauders allowed just 15 shots in two games with only five shots on frame (8 and 3 by the Beavers, 7 and 2 by the Dragons).
  • Molly Fischer was the NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week Sept. 23 after a perfect weekend in goal, stopping all five shots she faced. She made three saves in a 1-0 win over Minot State and two in a 4-0 win at MSU Moorhead.
 
CAPTAINS
Seniors Mo Malone and Ava Vizenor are the Marauders 2024 team captains.
 
DEBUTS
Making their UMary debuts this season are transfers Rachel Gensch and Allison Lepp and freshmen Maddy Barnick, Maicee Burke, Kylan Campbell, Kadyn Dilger, Siobhan Kaufmann, Bella Kozlowski, Harlee Peltz and Elizabeth Schmidt.
 
2007 UMARY WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM INDUCTED INTO MARAUDERS HALL OF FAME
The 2007 UMary Women's Soccer team was inducted into the Marauders Hall of Fame on Friday, October 4, and honored prior to the UMary win over Augustana. Combining an impenetrable defense with a formidable attack, the 2007 Marauders permanently etched their name in the school's history book as the first UMary team in any sport to qualify for an NCAA tournament. The team tied the school record for wins (16) and won the NSIC tournament for a second straight year.
 
MALONE VOTED NSIC PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mo Malone is the 2024 NSIC Soccer Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The senior defender earned prestigious recognition in a vote by the league coaches. Twice an All-NSIC second team selection, Malone is the first Marauders scholar-athlete to earn NSIC Soccer Preseason Player of the Year honors.
 
The Placentia, CA, native led one of the top defenses in the Northern Sun over the past two years and finished among NSIC leaders in assists in 2023. Malone distributed six helpers – including the lone assist on the only goal in the NSIC semifinal game – to top the Marauders and rank 4th in the NSIC.
 
Malone also scored two goals her junior season, both game-winners. She posted the only counter in a 1-0 win over MSU Moorhead off a corner kick and delivered the winning blow with 52 seconds left on a direct free kick in a 2-1 victory against Concordia-St. Paul. She has totaled ten points on the season and has earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
 
A United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region 3rd team selection, Malone helped the UMary defense keep 10 clean sheets.
 
GARDNER NAMED UMARY'S NSIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH
Olivia Gardner, one of the most dangerous attackers in the Northern Sun, is the NSIC Offensive Player to Watch for UMary. The junior forward from Winona, MN, Gardner scored a team-leading eight goals in 2023, while also pacing UMary in game-winning goals (4) and points (16). She ranked third in the NSIC in goals and game-winners and eighth in points. Gardner posted the winning counter in each of the Marauders playoff wins, a 2-0 victory at Northern State and a 1-0 win over Concordia-St. Paul in the semifinals.
 
UMARY PICKED 4TH IN NSIC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
The Marauders are projected to finish 4th in the 15-team league in the 2024 NSIC Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll. Under the direction of Head Coach Sarah Cook, who is in her 13th season at the helm of the Marauders, UMary placed 5th in conference action last year before earning a spot in the title game.
 
EXPERIENCE
The Marauders return 21 players from last year's squad, including 16 who earned at least one start throughout the year and nine of ten players who made at least 10 starts. Returning primary starters include seniors Ava Vizenor (3 years as a starter), Mo Malone (2), Mary Meeks (1), Sophia Lange (2), Molly Fisher (1), juniors Kendra Park (1), Tara Young (2), MaLiah Burke (1), Rio Spruenken (2), Olivia Gardner (2) and sophomore Kadyn Sharpe (1).
 
CLASS BREAKDOWN
9 seniors
8 juniors
6 sophomores
8 freshmen
 
NEWCOMERS
The Marauders welcome ten new players to the squad, including transfers Allison Lepp and Rachel Gensch. The other eight are true freshmen.
 
SIX STRAIGHT
The Marauders have qualified for the last six NSIC postseason tournaments.
 
30th SEASON OF MARAUDERS SOCCER
This is the 30th season of University of Mary women's soccer. The Marauders took to the pitch for the first time in 1995.
 
2023 REWIND
The Marauders finished the 2023 season 10-8-3 overall and 7-5-2 in the Northern Sun (5th place). UMary advanced to the NSIC tournament championship as the 6th seed, the Marauders first appearance in the league title game since 2007… Mo Malone (D), Eli Olsen (D), Ava Vizenor (M) and Olivia Gardner (F) all earned 2024 All-NSIC 2nd team honors… Olsen (1st team) and Malone (2nd) earned spots on the USC All-Central Region team… The Marauders finished with 10 clean sheets, including two in the NSIC tournament, with Molly Fischer recording all ten. The ten shutouts in a single season is the second-most by an individual player in program history.  Kristen Werner posted 11 shutouts in 2004. Rachel Dietrich also had 10 in 1997.
 
TICKETS FAQ
Fans who purchase tickets online receive a discount over tickets purchased at the gate. Single game adult soccer tickets are $10 plus fees when fans buy online at www.UMaryTickets.com or via the Hometown Fan app. Tickets for seniors (ages 65 and older) and youth (ages 13-18) are $5 plus fees.
  • Single game soccer tickets purchased at the gate are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and youth.
  • Children under the age of 13 are free when accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied children ticket prices are $5.
  • Tickets purchased at the gate are CASH ONLY transactions. Debit and credit cards purchases are online only at www.umarytickets.com or via the HomeTown Fan App.
  • UMary students and faculty and staff with their MCard are admitted FREE.
 
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Players Mentioned

Eli Olsen

#22 Eli Olsen

D
5' 10"
Senior
MaLiah Burke

#11 MaLiah Burke

F
5' 7"
Junior
Molly Fischer

#27 Molly Fischer

GK
5' 8"
Senior
Olivia Gardner

#24 Olivia Gardner

F
5' 7"
Junior
Andi Hunsicker

#23 Andi Hunsicker

F
5' 4"
Senior
Sophia Lange

#5 Sophia Lange

D
5' 7"
Senior
Mo Malone

#8 Mo Malone

D
5' 6"
Senior
Mary Meeks

#4 Mary Meeks

D
5' 7"
Senior
Kendra Park

#12 Kendra Park

F
5' 4"
Senior
Kadyn Sharpe

#10 Kadyn Sharpe

M
5' 8"
Sophomore
Rio Spruenken

#18 Rio Spruenken

M
5' 7"
Junior
Ava Vizenor

#19 Ava Vizenor

D
5' 5"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Eli Olsen

#22 Eli Olsen

5' 10"
Senior
D
MaLiah Burke

#11 MaLiah Burke

5' 7"
Junior
F
Molly Fischer

#27 Molly Fischer

5' 8"
Senior
GK
Olivia Gardner

#24 Olivia Gardner

5' 7"
Junior
F
Andi Hunsicker

#23 Andi Hunsicker

5' 4"
Senior
F
Sophia Lange

#5 Sophia Lange

5' 7"
Senior
D
Mo Malone

#8 Mo Malone

5' 6"
Senior
D
Mary Meeks

#4 Mary Meeks

5' 7"
Senior
D
Kendra Park

#12 Kendra Park

5' 4"
Senior
F
Kadyn Sharpe

#10 Kadyn Sharpe

5' 8"
Sophomore
M
Rio Spruenken

#18 Rio Spruenken

5' 7"
Junior
M
Ava Vizenor

#19 Ava Vizenor

5' 5"
Senior
D