THIS WEEKEND
Homecoming 2024 wraps up at the University of Mary on Sunday, October 6, when the Marauders soccer team hosts Augustana University. Game time in the Northern Sun contests between the Marauders and Vikings is 1 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.  
 
BACK IN THE BIZ
After three straight road games, the Marauders play their next three at home. After hosting Augie on Sunday, Oct. 6, St. Cloud State University comes to Bismarck on Friday, Oct. 11, for Senior Day with the University of Minnesota visiting on Sunday, October 13 for Family Day.  
 
2007 HALL OF FAME SOCCER TEAM TO BE HONORED SUNDAY
2007 Marauders Women's Soccer team was inducted into the Marauders Hall of Fame on Friday, October 4, and will be honored prior to kickoff on Sunday. 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 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.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 4-2-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the Northern Sun. UMary is 7^th in the NSIC with 7 points… The Vikings are 4-3-2 overall and 3-1-1 in the NSIC, sitting in a tie for 2^nd with 10 points.   
 
HISTORY
Since 2009 the Marauders are 3-10-1 against the Vikings, including a 2-4-1 record at home… The Vikings have won nine straight over UMary… UMary and Augie played to a 1-1 draw in 2013… The Marauders last beat the Vikings in 2012 (1-0 at Sioux Falls)… The last UMary home win was 2011 (2-0 at home)… five of the last six games were decided by a single goal.  
 
LAST WEEK
UMary held massive edges in shots (18-3), shots on frame (11-2) and corner kicks (19-1) but was unable to find a goal in a 0-0 draw at Southwest Minnesota State… The Marauders closed the weekend with a 2-0 loss at #17 Minnesota State as the Mavericks scored single goals in each half.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Links to live stats and video found at www.goumary.com/coverage
 
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.

 
19
The Marauders generated 19 corner kicks in a scoreless draw at Southwest Minnesota State, the most corner kicks the Marauders have taken in NCAA play (2006 and on).
 
FIVE
The Marauders extended their unbeaten string to five after a draw at SMSU. UMary didn't allow a single goal during that stretch, outscoring the opposition 11-0.
 
THREE IN SEVEN
The Marauders have limited their opposition to three goals in seven matches this season and have racked up five clean sheets. Two of the goals allowed came in the same game. UMary iis third in the NSIC in goals allowed average (0.43).
 
GOAL!
Despite not finding the net last weekend, the Marauders are second in the NSIC in scoring, generating 11 goals in seven games, an average of 1.57 goals/game.  
 
SIZZLING START
Rachel Gensch is off to a tremendous start for the Marauders. The transfer from Sierra College owns three goals and four assists this season. 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 third in the NSIC in points per game at 1.43 and is second with ten total points.  
 
WINNER
Olivia Gardner has posted two game-winning goals this season, the second-most among NSIC players. The all-NSIC forward is fifth in the NSIC in scoring with 1.00 points/game (two goals, three assists).
 
CLEAN SHEETS
Last season the Marauders posted ten 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.  A senior, Fischer shared already owns four this season with one shared with Kadyn Dilger against Black Hills State… Kristen Werner posted 11 shutouts in 2004. Rachel Dietrich also had 10 in 1997.
 
NUMBERS (NCAA RANKINGS) - TEAM
#4 Shots/game (20.71)
#8 Shots on goal/game (9.71)
#16 Goals Against Average (0.429)
#13 Shutout percentage (.714)
#14 corner kicks/game (7.14)
#18 Assists/game (2.00)
#25 Save Percentage (.880)
 
 
NUMBERS (NCAA RANKINGS) – INDIVIDUAL
Rachael Gensch

• #21 Assists/game (0.57)
• #22 Shots on goal/game (2.14)
• #22 Assists (4)

Olivia Gardner

• #23 Game winning goals (2)

Molly Fisher

• #23 Goals against average (0.436)
• #16 Save Percentage (0.917)
• #18 shutouts (4)

 
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.
 
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 4^TH 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 30^th 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 (5^th place). UMary advanced to the NSIC tournament championship as the 6^th 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 2^nd team honors… Olsen (1^st team) and Malone (2^nd) earned spots on the USC All-Central Region team… The Marauders finished with 10 clean sheets.
 
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