THIS WEEK
Following a home win on opening day, the University of Mary women's soccer team takes their first road trip of the season with a pair of non-conference matches in the Sunflower State. The Marauders open their journey with a visit to Emporia State University in Emporia, KS, for a 3 pm match against the Hornets. The 2-game road trip wraps up with a visit to Washburn University on Topeka, KS, for a 1 pm match on Sunday, September 14.  
 
THE RECORDS
UMary is 1-0 overall in 2025 following a 2-0 win over MSU Billings… Emporia State is 0-2… Washburn is 0-1-1.
 
OPPO RESEARCH
Emporia State finished 2024 with a record of 6-8-3. Before last season the Hornets had posted five straight winning seasons and made four NCAA tournament appearances from 2018-23. Both losses this season came against nationally-ranked teams (L 1-0 vs. #14 Drury, 2-1 vs. #25 Maryville)… Washburn posted a 4^th straight winning season in 2024, finishing the year 14-4-3 overall and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the second straight season.
 
SEVEN HEAVEN
The Marauders have qualified for postseason play seven straight seasons and eight times total under the helm of head coach Sarah Cook. The seven straight NSIC tournament appearances ties the longest streak in program history when UMary qualified for the postseason its first seven years in the league (2006-2012).
 
EIGHT
After recording a record of 11-4-4 overall in 2024, the Marauders posted double digit wins for the third straight year and own winning record in six of eight seasons and finished with a .500 or better record for the eighth straight season.
 
HISTORY LESSON
The Marauders are 2-0 all-time against the Hornets with both games played in Bismarck, ND… UMary claimed a 2-1 win over Emporia State in 2022 on goals by Kendra Park and Eli Olsen and 3-0 last fall behind 1^st half counters from Olivia Gardneer, Maliah Burke and Rachel Gensch. Gensch also assisted on the other two goals and Gardner added an assist on the Gensch goal. Molly Fischer had two saves for the clean sheet… Sunday's match between the Marauders and the Ichabods is the first meeting between the two teams.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Links to live stats and video are available at www.goumary.com/coverage
  
GAME 1 REWIND
The Marauders opened 2025 with a dominating win over the Yellowjackets 2-0. Playing the first half with a 30 mile an hour wind to their backs, the Marauders scored twice on goals by Rachel Gensch and Dina Polanco. Gensh scored on a quick touch from 31 yards out while Polanco drilled a 21 yard free kick. UMary held a 12-0 edge in shots in the first half and 15-2 for the game with a 7-2 advantage on shots on frame. Kadyn Dilger saved both shots she faced to register a clean sheet in her first collegiate start.  
 
DEBUTS
Nine Marauders made their UMary debuts against MSU Billings: Maggie Bono, Chloe Brand, Theresa English, Lauren LaFountain, Addison Massey, Mia Melton, Dina Polanco, Emmy Strobel and Hanna Sutter. Brand was the lone newcomer to earn a start for the veteran UMary squad. Sophomore goalkeeper Kadyn Dilger made her first collegiate start after appearing in two games for the Marauders last season.

101
Marauders head coach Sarah Cook earned her 100^th victory at UMary in the Marauders 2-1 overtime win at St. Cloud State University in the 2024 NSIC quarterfinals and now owns 101 wins. A member of the Marauders Hall of Fame after earning All-American honors three times as a scholar-athlete, Cook is in her 14^th season after taking over leadership of the program prior to the 2012 season. She is the program record-holder for career coaching wins.
 
EXPERIENCE
The Marauders return 18 players from last year's squad, including 11 who earned at least one start throughout the year and six who made 14 or more. Returners with seven or more starts last season include seniors Tara Young (3 years as a starter), MaLiah Burke (2), Rio Spruenken (3), Olivia Gardner (3), Allison Lepp (1), Kira Hockley (1) and Rachel Gensch (1) and junior Kadyn Sharpe (2).
 
CLASS BREAKDOWN
9 seniors/graduates
7 juniors
5 sophomores
9 freshmen
 
ALL-NSIC RETURNERS
The Marauders return four of their six All-Northern Sun players from last season: Sr. D Allison Lepp (1^st team 2024), Sr. F Maliah Burke (2^ne team 2024), Sr. F Olivia Gardner (2nd team 2023, 2^nd team 2024) and Sr. M Rio Spruenken (2^nd team 2022, 2^nd team 2024).

31^st SEASON OF MARAUDERS SOCCER
This is the 31^st season of University of Mary women's soccer. The Marauders took to the pitch for the first time in 1995.
  
#marauders#