THIS WEEK
The 2024 University of Mary women's soccer regular season schedule commences with a pair of games in Billings, MT. Competing in the 9^th Annual Rimrock Classic in Memory of Trevor Wildberger,  the Marauders will face host MSU Billings on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 8 pm CST, and Black Hills State University at 1 pm CST on Saturday, September 7. Both games will be played at the Yellowjacket Soccer Field.
 
RIMROCK HISTORY
The Marauders are making their 6^th appearance in the Rimrock Classic. UMary made its first appearance in 2017 and last played in the tournament in 2022. UMary is 8-2 all-time in the tournament, including a record of 2-1 against MSUU Billings and a 5-0 mark against BHSU.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Links to live stats and video found at www.goumary.com/coverage
 
THE RECORDS (2023 EDITION)
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…   MSU Billings was 5-9-3 overall and 4-8-2 in the GNAC… Black Hills State went 3-12-2 overall and 1-9-2 in the RMAC.
 
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 have 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.
 
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