BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary women's soccer team continued their charge towards postseason play with a third straight win and sixth victory in seven games. MaLiah Burke keyed a dominant Marauders effort with a brace of goals as UMary delivered only treats for the home fans in a 4-0 win over MSU Moorhead on Halloween.
 
The Marauders improve to 8-5-3 overall and 6-4-3 (21 points) in NSIC play. With games still left to play around the league today, the Marauders moved into at least a temporary tie for 6^th place with just two Northern Sun games left to play in 2025.
 
The top eight teams qualify for the NSIC tournament with the top four teams hosting. UMary has qualified for the conference tournament seven straight years. The Marauders can clinch a tournament berth by earning two points in the final two games.
 
MSU Moorhead is 3-12-1 overall and 2-11-0 (6 points/14^th place) in the NSIC.
 
The Marauders came out on fire, taking the first ten shots of the game. Continuing to generate opportunities, UMary broke through on the Marauders 13^th shot of the game. Breaking down the right sideline to the endline, Chloe Brand fired a cross into the box that was punched out by Dragons goalkeeper Quinn Carter. After a failed clearing attempt by MSUM, Burke chipped the ball off a bounce from 15 yards out into the back of the net to give UMary a 1-0 lead in the 30^th minute.
 
Just over two minutes later the Marauders doubled their lead on a Kira Hockley goal from distance. Taking a feed from Olivia Gardner to the center of the field, Hockley took a couple touches before drilling a shot from 30 yards out that Carter attempted to knock over the top of the goal but instead went off the top of her gloves. It was Hockley's first goal of the season and second of her career.
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The Marauders tacked on two more goals in the second half. Taking a thru ball 30 yards from the net, Rio Spruenken charged to the top left of the goal box before firing a shot to towards the right corner. Spruenken's shot was deflected and slowed by Carter but Burke cleaned up the rebound, pouncing on the ball just outside the goal line and tapping it into the right side of the net.
 
Harlee Peltz tallied her first career goal in the 81^st minute to close out the scoring. Claiming a loose ball, Peltz drove a shot from 30 yards out into the top left corner of the net.
 
The Marauders dominated the scoresheet, holding massive advantages in shots (35-3), shots on frame (16-1) and corner kicks (10-1).
 
Kadyn Dilger picked up her eight clean sheet of the season. In a quiet day she turned aside the lone shot the Dragons placed on frame.
 
The Marauders close out their regular season home schedule on Sunday, November 2, when UMary hosts the University of Minnesota Crookston. Game time is 1 pm at the MDU Resources Bowl in Bismarck, ND.
 
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