THIS WEEK
In the last full weekend home stand for the University of Mary women's soccer team in 2026, the Marauders put their 8-game unbeaten streak on the line when UMary hosts Southwest Minnesota State University and the University of Sioux Falls.
 
Friday, October 16 vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs

• 3 pm at MDU Resources Community Bowl, Bismarck, ND
• Senior Recognition Game honoring Chloe Brand and Payton Kooiman
• SMSU is 2-8-3 overall/2-6-2 Northern Sun (12^th place with 8 points)

 
Sunday, October 18 vs. University of Sioux Falls Cougars

• 1 pm at MDU Resources Community Bowl, Bismarck, ND
• Cancer Awareness Game
• USF enters weekend 4-4-5 overall / 2-3-5 Northern Sun (11^th place with 11 points)

 
MARAUDERS 5^th IN NPI CENTRAL REGION RANKINGS
The University of Mary ranks 5^th in the Central Region and 39^th in NCAA Division II in the first release of the NCAA Women's Soccer NCAA Power Index (NPI), featuring games through October 11.
 
The primary purpose of NPI is to compare teams within NCAA Division II for ranking and NCAA championship selection. Once automatic qualifiers are determined, remaining teams are considered for at-large selection based on NPI ranking until the championship field is filled.
 
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), the Mid-America Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Great American Conference (GAC) make up the 36-team NCAA Central Region. The top eight teams in the region will advance to the NCAA region tournament. Automatic bids are granted to the winners of the MIAA, GAC and NSIC postseason tournaments, with the remaining five spots awarded on an at-large basis. The two top-seeded teams in each region shall be offered the opportunity to host, provided minimum site selection criteria are met and a bid has been submitted. 
 
The NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship provides for a 56-team, single-elimination tournament. The top eight teams in the central region will compete in the championship.
 
The top ten teams in the NPI from the Central Region are: Minnesota State, Washburn, Pittsburg State, Central Missouri, UMary, Missouri Western, Central Oklahoma, Augustana, Northern State and Bemidji State.
 
MARAUDERS REMAIN 5^th IN IWSOC REGIONAL RANKINGS
For a second straight week the Marauders rank 5^th in the 7^th NCAA D2 Central Region ranking of 2026 released by Intercollegiate Women's Soccer Organization for Coaches (IWSOC) in Partnership with United Soccer Coaches on October 13. UMary is one of three NSIC teams in the rankings, joining Minnesota State (1) and Northern State University (8).
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 8-2-3 overall and are 2^nd in the NSIC with a record of 7-1-2 for 23 points.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Links to live stats and video are available at www.goumary.com/coverage.
 
MARAUDERS WEBCASTS STREAMED LIVE ON NSIC NETWORK POWERED BY MIDCO SPORTS NET
For the first time this season, all Northern Sun and Marauders home contests will stream live on the NSIC Network powered by Midco Sports Net. Games can be purchased individually for $10. To view all tournament games, consider purchasing a monthly subscription for $15 or an annual subscription for $79. Visit www.MidcoSportsPlus.com to subscribe today.
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders increased their unbeaten streak to eight matches with a pair of home wins…
Dina Polanco scored in the 87' off assists by Maggie Bono and Chloe Brand for a 2-1 road win over the University of Jamestown. Bono opened the scoring with her first career goal in the 60'. UJ tied the game in the 84'. The Marauders held a 30-4 edge in shots and 10-2 in shots on goal… In a meeting of two teams tied for 2^nd in the NSIC, the Marauders came out on top 1-0 over Northern State when Chloe Brand scored the only goal of the game with 24 seconds to play off an assist by Addison Massey. Kadyn Dilger made two saves to earn a clean sheet.
 
EIGHT
The Marauders are undefeated over their last eight games. The 8-game unbeaten streak equals the 2^nd-longest streak since starting NCAA and NSIC play in 2006. UMary had a 10-match unbeaten run in 2022 and an 8-match streak in 2021.
 
HISTORY LESSON
UMary vs. SMSU

• The Marauders are 18-4-1 against the Mustangs in a series dating back to 1997
• UMary is 8-1-0 at home, 7-3-1 at Marshall, MN, and 3-0-0 in neutral sites
• UMary has an 8-match unbeaten streak against SMSU
• Last Meeting: The Marauders earned a 4-0 road win Oct. 26, 2025, behind three 2^nd-half goals

UMary vs. Sioux Falls

• UMary has won seven straight games and is unbeaten in the last eight
• The Marauders are 11-1-2 in the last 14 meetings
• Last Meeting: Olivia Gardner snapped a tie with a goal in the 85' to earn the Marauders a 3-2 road win on October 24, 2025. Chloe Brand and Maicee Burke also had goals for UMary.

 
POLANCO LOCKED IN
Marauders all-conference and all-region midfielder is dialed in with 11 goals in 13 matches. She also has two assists for 24 points this season. Polanco leads the NSIC in points (24), goals (11) and game-winning goals (5). She also leads the NSIC in shots (62) and shots on goal (32).
 
In NCAA D2 Polanco is 2^nd in game-winning goals (5), 19^th in points/game (1.85), 13^th in goals/game (0.86), 10^th in shots/game (4.77) and 11^th in shots on goal/game (2.46).
 
GOAL ROLL
Dina Polanco is the fourth Marauder to score 10 or more goals in a season since UMary began NCAA and Northern Sun play in 2026, joining Megan Wilson (15 in 2007), Alex Bachman-Williams (13 in 2011), and Olivia Gardner (10 in 2024 and 2025).
 
And with 24 points already this season, she is the 6^th player with 20 or more points in a season, joining Megan Wilson (33 points in 2007), Alex Bachman-Williams (31 in 2011, 20 in 2012 and 2013), Jessica Janusz (25 points in 2008, 22 in 2006), Olivia Gardner (21 in 2025) and Jade Smith (20 in 2017). Polanco also had 21 points in 2025.
 
BRAND NAME
Chloe Brand continues to show her ability to generate offense from the back line. The senior defender and team captain leads the NSIC with five assists. Last weekend Brand was used more in an attacking role and the London, England, native produced. She has an assist on the game-winning goal at Jamestown in the closing seconds. Brand then followed with the game-winning goal with 24 seconds remaining in the Marauders 1-0 win over Northern State.
 
Last season the All-NSIC player posted three goals and two assists.
 
KEEPING IT CLEAN
The Marauders have six shutouts this season. Freshman goalkeeper Elena Van Heukelom earned a clean sheet in her first collegiate start. The native of Seeshaupt, Germany, made five saves in the Marauders 3-0 win over MSU Billings. Kadyn Dilger now has five clean sheets this season and 13 career shutouts after the Marauders defeated Concordia-St. Paul, Winona State, Minnesota Duluth and Northern State by identical 1-0 scores and a 2-0 win over Bemidji State. Dilger was the NSIC goalkeeper of the week after the clean sheets against the Warriors and the Bulldogs. 
 
FIRSTS
A trio of freshman have scored Marauders goals this season. Alex Guinn, Cate Jenesa and Lily Schatz have all tallied counters in their first collegiate season.
 
DEBUTS
The Marauders have had 14 players make their UMary debut this season: Alex Guinn, Cate Jesena, Lillian Schatz, Matilda Walker, Portia Casci, Josey Hall, Sofia Larranaga, Johanna Menge, Gabriella Newell, Mia Stretcha, Elena Van Heukelom, Alejandro Vargas, Camdyn Varty and Ivy Wessel. All are freshmen except for Wessel and Walker, both sophomores who transferred to UMary this season.
 
ALL AROUND THE WORLD
UMary features eight international students: Chloe Brand (England), Johanna Menge (Germany), Dina Polanco (Guatemala), Mia Strecha (Austria), Emmy Strobel (Germany), Elena Van Heukelom (Germany), Alejandra Vargas (Spain) and Matilda Walker (England).
 
DON'T LEAVE EARLY
The Marauders are never out of a game, twice scoring with less than 90 seconds to earn a draw and once with 24 seconds to earn a win. Dina Polanco scored off a feed from Maggie Bono with 65 seconds left in the opener to earn a 1-1 draw with Western Oregon… In the NSIC opener, the Marauders trailed the Huskies 2-0 with under 5:00 to play. Polanco took a feed from Chloe Brand with 4:17 to play to cut the UMary deficit in half. With 34 seconds left Polanco delivered a penalty kick to earn a draw… Chloe Brand scored the game-winner off an Addison Massey assist with 24 seconds left to defeat Northern State 1-0.
 
POLANCO EARNS SPOT ON TEAM GUATEMALA
UMary sophomore midfielder Dina Polanco is a native of Guatemala is a member of her country's national team. Polanco played in World Cup-qualifying matches for her home country and contributed goals in multiple games.
 
WE'RE BACK
The Marauders return 13 players from last season:

• Seniors Chloe Brand, Payton Kooiman and Kadyn Sharpe
• Juniors Maicee Burke, Kadyn Dilger, Bella Kozlowski and Harlee Peltz
• Sophomores Maggie Bono, Addison Massey, Dina Polanco, Emmy Strobel, Sarah Weaver and Ivy Wessel.

 
116
Marauders head coach Sarah Cook earned her 100th victory at UMary in the Marauders 2-1 overtime win at St. Cloud State University in the 2024 NSIC quarterfinals and now owns 116 wins. A member of the Marauders Hall of Fame after earning All-American honors three times as a scholar-athlete, Cook is in her 14th season after taking over leadership of the program prior to the 2012 season. She is the program record-holder for career coaching wins.
 
CLASS BREAKDOWN

• 3 seniors
• 4 juniors
• 7 sophomores
• 14 freshmen

 
2026 NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

• WESSEL NAMED NSIC DEFENDER OF THE WEEK FOR HER MARAUDERS DEBUT

Ivy Wessel made an immediate impact for the University of Mary, earning Northern Sun Soccer Defender of the Week honors in her first match with the Marauders. A sophomore from Rosemount, MN, Wessel played a prominent role in the Marauders 1-1 draw against visiting Western Oregon University in the season opener. UMary held the Wolves, who qualified for the NCAA tournament last year, to nine shots overall and just three on frame. Wessel, a transfer from Loras College, came off the bench to play 67 minutes. While on the pitch, Wessel and the UMary defense allowed five total shots with only one on goal.

• POLANCO, PELTZ EARN NSIC HONORS FOR MARAUDERS WEEKEND SWEEP

A University of Mary home sweep by identical 1-0 scores earned Dina Polanco and Harlee Peltz Northern Sun Women's Soccer Player of the Week honors. Polanco was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring the lone goal in each game. The sophomore midfielder scored in the 15th minute of the Marauders win over Concordia-St. Paul and on a free kick in the 39th minute of a UMary victory against Winona State University.
 
Peltz claimed NSIC Defensive Player of the Week recognition after leading a Marauders backline that never conceded a goal in the two wins. The junior defender from Albertville, MN, played all 180 minutes on the weekend and led a back line that held the two opponents to a combined 13 total shots with just two on frame. The Golden Bears managed just 10 shots with two on frame. The Marauders tightened the clamps even further on Winona State as the Warriors were held to three total shots, none of which were on goal.

• DILGER NAMED NSIC GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK Kadyn Dilger was named the Northern Sun Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week after leading UMary to a pair of shutout wins. The junior made ten saves – several of the spectacular variety – over the weekend as the Marauders earned a 1-0 win over the University of Minnesota Duluth and 2-0 over Bemidji State University. She had six saves and faced 10 shots against the Bulldogs. Dilger followed with a 4-save clean sheet against the Beavers.

 
POLANCO NAMED UMARY OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH IN 2026
Sophomore midfielder Dina (pronounced DEE nah) Polanco is the Marauders NSIC Offensive Player to Watch in 2026. Named the 2025 Northern Sun Newcomer of the Year, Polanco was selected to the All-NSIC first team as a midfielder. She was also honored as a first team D2CCA All-Central Region selection and was named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Women's All-Central Region third team to cap a tremendous freshman season. She was the first UMary player to earn first team all-region recognition since 2012… Polanco finished her freshman season nine goals and three assists for 21 points. She tied for the team lead in points and finished second in goals. Polanco had two game-winning goals and made both her penalty kicks. Her goal total was the most for a UMary freshman since 2007.
 
NSIC NAMES BRAND DEFENDER TO WATCH FOR UMARY IN 2026
Senior defender Chloe Brand the Marauders NSIC Defensive Player to Watch in 2026. In her first season at UMary, Brand made an immediate impact and was named to the 2025 All-NSIC second team. A valuable weapon on set pieces, the London, England, native scored three goals and had two assists. Two goals came directly off her corner kick service and the third was on a free kick. Additionally both assists came after she triggered a corner kick. Brand also anchored a Marauders defense that posted eight clean sheets and allowed just 20 goals in 19 games, the 6th-fewest in the NSIC. Overall the Marauders outscored the opposition 40-20.
 
UMARY PICKED 6^th IN NSIC PRESEAON COACHES' POLL
The Marauders are projected to finish sixth in 2026 in the NSIC Coaches' poll. Minnesota State topped the NSIC coaches' poll, followed by Concordia-St. Paul, Bemidji State, Augustana, St. Cloud State, UMary, Northern State, Minot State, Winona State, Minnesota Duluth, Wayne State, Sioux Falls, Southwest Minnesota State, Jamestown, Minnesota Crookston and MSU Moorhead.
 
2025 LOOKBACK
Head Coach Sarah Cook directed the Marauders to an eight straight Northern Sun tournament berth in 2025, the longest streak in program history. UMary has now gone nine straight seasons without a losing record. The Marauders own a winning record in seven of the last nine seasons and finished with a .500 or better record for the last night years.

• The Marauders led the NSIC in scoring last year with 2.1 goals/game
• UMary set a new NCAA Division II program record for goals in a single season with 40 in 19 games. The old mark was 39 in 23 games in 23 games.
• Freshman Dina Polanco was the NSIC Newcomer of the Year and was an All-NSIC 1^st team selection at midfield. She also earned All-Central Region honors by D2CCA (1^st team) and the United Soccer Coaches (3^rd team).
• Senior forward Olivia Gardner earned 2^nd team All-NSIC recognition for a third straight year
• Junior defender Chloe Brand was named to the All-NSIC 2^nd team in her first season at UMary
• Kayden Dilger posted eight clean sheets and earned NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week honors

 
32^nd SEASON OF MARAUDERS SOCCER
2026 is the 32^nd season of University of Mary women's soccer. The Marauders took to the pitch for the first time in 1995.
 
VISIT UMARYTICKETS.COM FOR TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets online for all Marauders sporting events at www.UMaryTickets.com 
 
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