BISMARCK, ND – Second half goals by Dinal Polanco and Rachel Gensch earned the University of Mary women's soccer team a Homecoming weekend sweep as the Marauders downed Augustana University 2-0.
 
On a day with the winds ripping across the field at over 20 miles per hour and with gusts up to 36 mph, the Marauders (4-4-3 overall, 2-3-3 NSIC) bottled up a potent Vikings (7-2-2, 5-2-1) attack, limiting the scoring opportunities for an Augustana team who held down second place in the Northern Sun standings entering the match.  
 
The Marauders opened the weekend with a 7-0 win over visiting Wayne State College on Friday.
 
Despite playing with the wind to their back in the first half, the Vikings were unable to dent the Marauders defense. While Augie had a 6-2 edge in shots and took seven corner kicks, UMary goalkeeper Kadyn Dilger turned aside the only two shots the Vikings managed to put on frame.
 
Now playing with the wind to their backs for the second half, the Marauders came out strong from intermission and wasted little time in claiming the lead.
 
Quickly becoming one of the most dangerous attackers in the NSIC, Polanco drew a foul in the 49^th minute to earn a free kick. Placing the ball 30 yards straight out from the left side of the goal box, Polanco rifled a shot into the top right reaches of the net for a 1-0 UMary lead.
 
Polanco, a freshman from Guatemala who has proved deadly on free kicks this season, leads the Marauders with six goals on the year.
 
Augustana looked for the equalizer but couldn't sustain an attack against the UMary defenders. Over the next 25 minutes the Vikings had a 4-1 edge in shots but Dilger cleaned up both Augie attempts on target.
 
The Marauders sealed the win in the 81^st minute on another goal from distance. Taking a long pass off a free kick from Tara Young with her back to the goal, Gensch settled the ball, turned and split a pair of defenders to create a path to the goal. After a couple dribbles to find separation, Gensch rocketed a shot from 20 yards out just under the crossbar in the middle of the frame for her third goal of the season.
 
Both sides finished with 10 shots with UMary having a slight 5-4 edge in shots on goal. Augie took all seven corner kicks of the game while UMary committed more fouls 13-10.
 
Dilger made four saves in the game to earn her fifth clean sheet of the season and second of the weekend.
 
The Marauders next host the University of Jamestown on Friday, October 17. Game time is 4 pm.
 
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