WINONA, MN –
Mo Malone delivered the knockout punch in a 1-0 victory for the University of Mary women's soccer team to extend the Marauders unbeaten string to six games, including three straight on the road.
The win pushes UMary up one spot in the Northern Sun standings to fourth place. The Marauders are 8-2-3 overall and 6-1-3 in NSIC play. With 21 points in the league UMary is one point out of second place, trailing Augustana and St. Cloud State, both with 22 points. SCSU has played one more league game than UMary and the Marauders defeated Augie earlier this season. Winona State is 5-6-1 and 4-6 in the NSIC.
Three games into a four-game road trip, the Marauders have two wins and a tie. In the last six games UMary has four wins and two draws.
A scoreless game in the first half, the Marauders nearly claimed the lead in the 25
th minute when a shot by
MaLiah Burke skipped off the top of the crossbar.
A wild scramble following a corner kick led to the Marauders scoring the lone goal of the game in the 69
th minute.
Rio Spruenken served a kick from the right corner to the left side of the goal.
Allison Lepp jumped on a loose ball and blasted a shot off Warriors goalkeeper Alyson Jumper. The rebound found its way to the feet of
Olivia Gardner, who beat a Winona State defender to the ball and slid a pass to Malone. From 15 yards out the UMary captain never hesitated as she launched a rocket off her left foot into the upper reaches of the net in the center of the goal. The goal is the first of the season for Malone.
UMary's defense and goalkeeper
Molly Fischer took command of the final 20 minutes. The Warriors generated two corner kicks and managed five shots but Fischer turned away the only attempt on frame.
Fischer finished with three saves in the game to post her seventh clean sheet of the season the Marauders eighth total shutout.
UMary held advantages in shots (11-10), shots on frame (7-3) and corner kicks (8-2).
The Marauders close out their four-game road trip at Concordia-St. Paul on Sunday, October 25. Game time is 1 pm. The Golden Bears are 6
th in the NSIC standings and just two points behind the Marauders. CSP is also ranked 8
th in the United Soccer Coaches central region rankings while UMary sits 9
th.
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