BISMARCK, ND – A late goal by Maicee Burke earned the University of Mary a 1-1 draw with visiting University of Minnesota Crookston and provided the Marauders a valuable point in the Northern Sun standings.
 
With UMary trailing in its final home game of the season, the Marauders magical Minot triumvirate combined to score the equalizer. All-Northern Sun defender Allison Lepp played the ball forward to All-Northern Sun forward MaLiah Burke charging down the right flank. Burke caught up to the ball on the right side of the penalty area and one-timed a centering pass to her sister. Timed perfectly, Maicee Burke charged towards the goal and struck the ball on the run at the top right of the goal box, cracking the ball home inside the right post in the 72^nd minute to pull even.
 
Lepp and the Burkes all hail from Minot, ND.
 
MaLiah Burke now has points in three straight games and 5-of-6. During the last six games she has two goals and five assists.
 
Moments after the Burke goal, a header by Addison Massey looked destined for the net by UMC goalkeeper Jordan Metz made a diving save to prevent the score. UMary had also just missed scoring minutes before the Burke goal when Metz rose to deflect a Hannah Sutter off the crossbar in the 70^th minute.
 
As they had all game, the Marauders continued to press the attack but couldn't find the go-ahead goal. Over the last 18 minutes of play the Marauders generated five shots with two on frame and a pair of corner kicks.
 
In a game played with winds of over 20 miles per hour, UMC scored the only goal of the opening half. With the Marauders playing into the wind, UMary held a 10-3 advantage in shots and generated multiple quality scoring opportunities. But it was the Golden Eagles who tallied the only goal when Elise Lefers took a pair of thru balls and found a seam to score in the 28^th minute. It was the first goal scored by UMC against the Marauders since 2017.
 
UMary is 7-0-2 against UMC over the last nine meetings.
 
The Marauders held major advantages in shots (27-3), shots on frame (11-2) and corner kicks (9-0).
 
Olivia Gardner led the Marauders in shots (9). Dina Polanco added four.
 
Metz finished with ten saves for UMC.
 
With one game left to play in the regular season the Marauders are 7^th in the Northern Sun standings. UMary is 8-5-4 overall and 6-4-4 in the NSIC for 22 points. The Marauders can finish 7^th thru 9^th in the NSIC standings and are battling Winona State University (21 points) and Northern State University (21 points) for the final two spots in the Northern Sun tournament. The top eight teams qualify for postseason play. A UMary win in the finale guarantees the Marauders a tournament berth.
 
The Marauders finish the regular season at Highway 83 rival Minot State University at 2 pm on Thursday, November 6.
 
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