CROOKSTON, MN – Olivia Gardner delivered another game-winning goal for the University of Mary as the visiting Marauders edged past the University of Minnesota Crookston 1-0. The UMary win allows the Marauders to maintain their grip on third place in the Northern Sun standings.
 
UMary improves to 7-2-2 overall and 5-1-2 in the NSIC for 17 points.
 
Molly Fischer kept the game scoreless at intermission with an impressive leaping save in the 20^th minute when she turned aside a shot headed just under the cross bar. It was the first of only two saves the UMary senior had to make on the way to her sixth clean sheet of the season and seventh overall for the Marauders.
 
Limited to just three shots in the first half and two on frame, UMary cranked up the offensive pressure in the second half. A golden scoring opportunity by Olivia Gardner just missed in the 57^th minute when her shot was saved by Golden Eagles goalkeeper Jordan Metz. In the 62^nd minute Gardner one-timed a pass from the right flank off the left post.
 
Maicee Burke worked herself free in the 66^th minute and delivered a shot inside the goal box but Metz was in position to make another big save for UMC and deny another UMary scoring attempt.
 
Another scoring opportunity in the 73^rd minute just missed on a header attempt by Allison Lepp off a corner kick into the goal box.  
 
With time running down, the Marauders finally broke through the Golden Eagles defense in the 83^rd minute on a goal by Gardner. Kendra Park took the ball away from a UMC defender and sent the ball to Lepp. The UMary defender delivered a perfectly placed diagonal pass to Gardner just inside the top of the box. After a quick touch to settle the ball the All-Northern Sun delivered a shot just inside the left side of the net for her third game-winning goal of the season.
 
Gardner is tied for the NSIC lead in game-winning goals as all three of her counters this season have proved to be the decisive blow.
 
UMC attempted to find the equalizer but was turned away on an attempt from distance in the 84^th minute. UMary regained possession and kept the ball in the UMC defensive zone for virtually the remainder of the game.
 
UMary finished with the advantage in shots (11-4), shots on frame (7-2) and corner kicks (12-0).
 
The Marauders next visit Bemidji State University in a 1 pm match on Sunday, October 19. BSU is currently second in the NSIC - just ahead of UMary - with 18 points prior to the Beavers game against Minot State University on Friday.
 
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