BURNSVILLE, MN – Mo Malone, after leading the University of Mary to the Northern Sun tournament championship game last fall, is the 2024 NSIC Soccer Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The senior defender earned prestigious recognition in a vote by the league coaches.
 
Malone, twice an All-NSIC second team selection, 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 3^rd team selection, Malone helped the UMary defense keep 10 clean sheets.
 
"Mo is a natural leader who exemplifies how she leads through her work ethic and determination," said Marauders Head Coach Sarah Cook. "She demands the best out of herself in all that she does, and that exudes to her teammates. Mo is heavily involved in the community grass roots soccer program coaching youth soccer players. She is a wonderful role model for them to look up to as well."
 
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.
 
"Olivia is a highly self-driven scholar athlete who has elevated her impact on the University of Mary Women's Soccer team through her hard work, dedication, and drive for success," said Cook. "She is a wonderful teammate, rising leader, and tremendous role model on and off the pitch as she is heavily involved in both campus and community work as well."
 
The Marauders are projected to finish 4^th 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 13^th season at the helm of the Marauders, UMary placed 5^th in conference action last year before earning a spot in the title game. The Marauders finished 10-8-3 overall and 7-5-2 in NSIC games.
 
"This year's squad we return a lot of experience that will help us continue to expand on the standards and goals our program has established for itself. We have eight impactful seniors who will lead that charge and have created a wonderful culture and expectation for success on and off the pitch. We are excited to be back together on the pitch, grow together, and compete this season.
 
Minnesota State received 10 first place votes and tallied 186 points, ranking them seven points ahead of defending NSIC Regular Season Champions St. Cloud State, which tallied 179 points and received four first place votes. The two-time defending NSIC Tournament Champions of Bemidji State came in third with 170 points. UMary was fourth with 151 points and the final first place vote.
 
The Marauders report to camp August 18 and begin training August 19. UMary's first home appearance is an exhibition match August 24 against the University of Regina. The regular season open is a road game at MSU Billings September 5. The home opener is September 15 against Emporia State, followed by the NSIC opener September 20 against Minot State.
 
The 2024 NSIC Soccer Regular Season Champion will be determined by a 14-match league schedule, with a win earning a team three points and a tie one point.
 
The 2024 NSIC Soccer season will see its first non-conference action on Thursday, September 5 with NSIC action beginning on Friday, September 20. 
 
The NSIC Tournament is scheduled for Monday, November 11, Friday, November 15 and Sunday, November 17. The top four seeds shall host a first round match, followed by the semifinal and championship rounds at the campus of the highest remaining seed of the four quarterfinal winners.
 
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