BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary women's soccer team rolled past Emporia State University 3-0 in the Marauders first home game of the season and their final outing before opening Northern Sun action.
Rachel Gensch had a goal and two assists and
Olivia Gardner scored the winning goal and added an assist for the Marauders against a Hornets team coming off three straight NCAA tournament appearances.
UMary, which next hosts Highway 83 rival Minot State University at 3 pm on Friday, September 20, at the MDU Resources Community Bowl to open NSIC play, improves to 2–1. Emporia State slips to 2-2.
A spectacular pitch-length breakout provided the Marauders a quick lead less than 12 minutes into the non-conference match. Controlled by UMary in their defensive zone,
Tara Young played a ball to
Rachel Gensch on the attacking side of midfield. The Marauders transfer from Sierra College played the ball out of the air with a perfectly placed header to a sprinting
Olivia Gardner. The UMary all-conference forward gathered the ball at full speed and split two defenders. Driving towards the net with the Emporia State goalkeeper coming off her line to challenge Gardner, the Winona, MN, native fired a shot from just inside the box into the low left corner of the goal to put the Marauders in front 1-0.
UMary doubled its lead in the 31
st minute.
Sophia Lange played a perfect cross from the left sidelines to the right top of the goal box. Beating the Hornets defender to the ball,
MaLiah Burke perfectly placed a shot over the goalkeeper and just under the crossbar, sending the Marauders into intermission with a 2-0 lead.
After helping set up the Marauders first two goals, Gensch scored her second goal of the season off a give and go with Gardner less than three minutes into the second half for a 3-0 UMary lead. With the ball played forward from Gardner, Gensch kept her forward momentum and picked up the pass just outside the right side of the penalty area. Charging towards the goal with three defenders and the goalkeeper converging on her, Gensch rolled the ball into the open left side of the net from just outside the goal box.
The Marauders held a massive 17-3 edge in shots as UMary dominated the run of play. The Marauders also held the edge in shots on frame (6-2) and in corner kicks (4-1).
Molly Fischer stopped both shots ESU put on frame, giving UMary a second straight clean sheet, both by 3-0 margins.
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