THIS WEEK
The University of Mary women's soccer team makes their regular season home debut against regional powerhouse Emporia State University. The Marauders host the Hornets, who have made NCAA regional tournament the last three seasons, in the non-conference match at 1 pm on Sunday, September 15, at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
 
UMARY HOSTING ESU-NORTHERN STATE ON FRIDAY SEPT. 13
Emporia State and Northern State will play a non-conference match 3 pm Friday, September 13. UMary hosts the meeting between the two NCAA Central Region schools at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. Admission is free and open to the public.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 1-1 overall… The Hornets are 1-1 overall. Neither has played a conference game.
 
HISTORY
The Marauders and the Hornets have played one time prior, a 2-1 UMary win over visiting #14 Emporia State on September 2, 2022. Kendra Park and Eli Olsen scored 1^st half goals for UMary.
 
LAST WEEK
UMary split a pair of games at the Rimrock Classic in Billings, MT. After falling 1-0 to host MSU Billings in the opener, UMary rebounded with a 3-0 win over Black Hills State University. Kira Hockley and Rachel Gensch both had a goal and an assist. Allison Lepp added a goal on a corner kick served by Rio Spruenken. Molly Fisher made four saves and combined with Kadyn Dilger for the clean sheet… MIAA member Emporia State played a pair of Northern Sun teams in Mankato, MN, to open the season. The Hornets dropped a 3-0 decision to host Minnesota State before claiming a 3-0 win over Southwest Minnesota State University.
 
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 $7.50 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.

 
NEW
A pair of newcomers played a big role in the Marauders 3-0 win over the Yellow Jackets on Saturday. A junior forward, Rachel Gensch set up Kira Hockley for the Marauders first goal and then  scored UMary's third and final goal in the win off a feed from Hockley. Gensch transferred to UMary from Sierra College. Allison Lepp, a graduate transfer from 2022 NCAA Division II national champion Western Washington, scored the Marauders second goal of the game when the defender from Minot, ND, headed a corner kick service from Rio Spruenken into the net.
 
DEBUTS
Making their UMary debuts were 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.
 
TEN
Molly Fischer and the Marauders collected ten clean sheets in 2023, the second most for an individual in team history. Kristen Werner posted 11 shutouts in 2004. Rachel Dietrich had 10 in 1997.
 
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, 2^nd most in a single season in team history.
 
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