MINOT, ND – Forced to wait to learn their playoff fate until the final game of the Northern Sun regular season was complete, the University of Mary women's soccer team qualified for postseason play for the 8^th straight season and will open the 2025 NSIC tournament at conference champion Minnesota State University on Monday, November 10.
 
Game time for the Marauders meeting with the 2^nd ranked Mavericks is 1 pm at The Pitch in Mankato, MN.
 
The top eight teams in the final NSIC regular season standings advance to the postseason with the top four teams hosting opening round games. The Marauders finished in a tie for 7^th place with Northern State University. The Wolves claimed the 7^th seed in the tournament based on NSU's 3-2 home win over UMary. The Marauders picked up the #8 seed to earn the meeting with the #1-seeded Mavericks.
 
Visit www.NorthernSun.org for the complete 2025 NSIC Soccer Tournament Bracket.
 
First round winners advance to the NSIC semi-finals on Friday, November 14. The championship game is set for Sunday, November16. The top remaining seed after the opening round hosts the semifinals and championship game. The NSIC tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
 
Olivia Gardner scored her career-best tenth goal of the season for the Marauders lone counter in a 2-1 loss at Minot State University to close out the regular season. The Beavers converted two corner kicks into the first two goals of the game to secure 4^th place in the NSIC and home field in the first round of the league tournament.
 
The visiting Marauders came out on fire, generating five strong scoring opportunities in the first 19 minutes before the Beavers were able to generate a shot. A Gardner shot targeting the bottom left of the net was turned aside on a diving stop by Minot State goalkeeper Rebecca Sargent in the 3'. Sargent then denied two Rachel Gensch shots before Gardner just missed the top right corner of the net. Shortly after a 4^th corner kick, Sargen again denied Gensch for a third time.
 
The Beavers didn't have many opportunities in the first half but took advantage when chances were presented. Minot State opened the scoring in the 21^st minute on a header by Brittney Egbert off a corner kick. Minutes later UMary goalkeeper Kadyn Dilger made a spectacular save that resulted in another MSU corner kick. Once again the Beavers delivered following a set piece with Emerie Campbell scoring for a 2-0 Minot State lead in the 27^th minute.
 
The Marauders broke through in the 33^rd minute. Dina Polanco delivered a cross from outside the 18 to the top of the goal box. Using exquisite timing, Garner left the ground to meet the ball in the air and deliver a perfectly executed scissor kick into the right side of the net.
 
Gardner is the first UMary player to score ten or more goals in a season since Alex Bachman-Williams had 13 counters in 2011.
 
UMary generated a couple other opportunities before intermission but couldn't connect for a goal. Forced to play into a strong wind in the second half the Marauders held a 4-2 edge in shots but was unable to find the equalizer.
 
The Marauders held the edge in shots (13-4) and shots on goal (10-4) while the Beavers had a slight advantage on corner kicks (8-7).
 
UMary finishes the regular season with a record of 8-6-4 overall and 6-5-4 (22 points/7^th place tie) in NSIC play in 2025. Minot State is 9-5-4 overall and 9-2-4 (31 points / 4^th place) in the NSIC.
 
The Marauders have now qualified for the NSIC tournament eight straight years and nine times under the direction of Head Coach Sarah Cook. The eight straight NSIC postseason appearances is now a program record.
 
Additionally the Marauders are guaranteed to finish with a winning record for the 7^th time in nine seasons and a .500 record or better for the 9^th straight season.
 
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