THIS WEEK
The University of Mary women's soccer team takes their 6-game unbeaten string on the road with a visit to the University of Jamestown set for Friday, October 9. Match time is 6 pm at the Charlotte and Gordon Hansen Stadium in Jamestown, ND.
 
UMary immediately returns home to host Northern State University on Sunday, October 11. The match between the Wolves and the Marauders - both tied for second in the Northern Sun standings - is set for 1 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck, ND.   
 
MARAUDERS TAKE JUMP IN REGIONAL RANKINGS
Jumping up five spots from last week, the Marauders rank 5^th in the NCAA Division II Central Region women's soccer poll released October 5 by Intercollegiate Women's Soccer Organization for Coaches (IWSOC) in Partnership with United Soccer Coaches. UMary is one of three NSIC teams in the rankings, joining Minnesota State (2) and the University of Minnesota Duluth (8). Pittsburgh State leads the region poll.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 6-2-3 overall and 5-1-2 in the Northern Sun (T-2^nd place with 17 points)… Jamestown is 4-4-3 and tied for 6^th in the NSIC with 14 points (4-2-2 NSIC)… Northern State is 6-2-2 overall and 5-1-2 in the NSIC (T-2^nd with 17 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 ran their win streak to five games with a 3-1 road win at Augustana, who was ranked ahead of UMary in regional rankings entering the game. An own goal gave the Marauders the lead just 4' into the match. Bella Kozlowski added a goal at 30' and Dinal Polanco pushed the advantage to 3-0 with a header at the 47' mark. Kadyn Dilger made seven saves in the win… The Marauders win streak ended at five but the unbeaten streak increased to six in a 1-1 draw at Wayne State College. The Wildcats scored first in the 68' before Polanco was fouled and scored on the penalty in the 77'. Polanco nearly won the game a few minutes later but her shot deflected off the frame. UMary held an 18-5 edge in shots.
 
SIX
The Marauders are undefeated over their last six games. UMary also had 6-game unbeaten streaks in 2023 and 2024 and is the program's longest since a 10-game run in 2022… this is the sixth time UMary has had a 6-game unbeaten streak since joining the NCAA in 2006 and is the third-longest in that time frame. UMary had a 10-game streak in 2022 and an 8-game run in 2021.
 
HISTORY LESSON
UMary vs. Jamestown: One-time NAIA regional foes, the Marauders and the Jimmies have played three times since the Marauders made the move to NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun in the 2006 season… two of the meetings came in 2006. The Marauders won the first meeting 5-0 at home on September 13 as Jessica Janusz scored a brace. On Sept. 27 in Jamestown, ND, the two teams played to a 2-2 draw. Janusz and Alyssa Deutscher both tallied for UMary. The Marauders looked to have the game in hand but the Jimmies scored twice in the final two minutes of play to gain a tie… On Oct. 17, 2026, the Marauders and the Jimmies played the first NCAA and Northern Sun match between the two programs. Additionally this is the first-ever conference game between the two schools. UMary started women's soccer in 1995 and Jamestown in 1996 but there was no conference competition for the two I-94 rivals, just NAIA regional play. The Marauders claimed a 5-0 home win, outshooting the Jimmies 33-4. Olivia Gardner scored the first two goals of the game and Dina Polanco added a brace.
 
UMary vs. Northern State: Since the Marauders began NCAA Division II play and joined the Northern Sun for the 2006 season, UMary is 11-6-5 against Northern State… UMary is 6-1-2 at home since 2006… In their last meeting Oct. 19, 2025, in Aberdeen, SD, the Marauders grabbed a 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by Olivia Gardner. The Wolves scored three times – all in a span of less than 10 minutes – to rally for a 3-2 win.
 
POLANCO LOCKED IN
Marauders all-conference and all-region midfielder is dialed in with ten goals in 11 matches. The member of the Guatemala national team earned the Marauders 1-1 draw with Western Oregon in the season opener when she scored with 65 seconds left in the game. After picking up an assist in a loss to Black Hills State, Polanco tallied twice in the Marauders 3-0 win at MSU Billings. Her goals came 150 seconds apart late in the first half to give UMary a 2-0 lead at intermission. Polanco then posted a brace at SCSU in the NSIC opener, scoring goals with 4:17 and 34 seconds left in the match to earn a 2-2 tie. Polanco then scored the lone goal in the Marauders 1-0 wins over Concordia-St Paul and Winona State. She added an assist on the winning goal in a 1-0 win over UMD and scored the winning goal in a 2-0 win over Bemidji State. Polanco has added goals against Augustana (3-1 win) and at Wayne State (1-1)
 
Polanco leads the NSIC in points (22), goals (10) and game-winning goals (4). She also leads the NSIC in shots (49) and shots on goal (28).
 
In NCAA D2 Polanco is 6^th in game-winning goals (4), 16^th in points/game (2.00), 12^th in goals/game (0.91), 15^th in shots/game (4.45) and 10^th in shots on goal/game (2.55).
 
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 22 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.
 
ON BRAND
Chloe Brand continues to show her ability to generate offense from the back line. The senior defender and team captain is second in the NSIC with four assists. Last season the All-NSIC player posted three goals and two assists.
 
KEEPING IT CLEAN
The Marauders have five 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 four clean sheets this season and 12 career shutouts after the Marauders defeated Concordia-St. Paul, Winona State and Minnesota Duluth 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. 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.
 
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.

 
114
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 114 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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