MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead fell victim to a tough first 45 minutes in Sunday's home-opener as the Dragons fell to the visiting Mary Marauders, 4-0.
Mary would bum-rush MSUM out of the gate, immediately working the ball into the box. The Marauders would score early in the sixth minute as Olivia Gardner would head in a lovely cross from Mary forward Rio Spruenken.
Quinn Carter would have her hands full throughout the opening portion of the contest, saving a pair of shots after Gardner's connection. Mary would score again near the 15th minute to push in front by a daunting two goals.
MSUM would settle in on defense from there with Carter leading the charge in net. The junior would stall eight Marauders attempts on net throughout the remainder of the half.
Kraly Walker would have a nice opportunity on the goal in the 22nd minute for MSUM as she would find herself in a breakaway scenario. A nice block from the Marauder defense stalled the forward pace.
Becca Cook would register the first shot on goal for MSUM near the end of the half on a shot that was saved by Marauder keeper Molly Fischer. Through 45 minutes, MSUM trailed 2-0 as the Marauders controlled possession for most of the half. The Marauders tallied a 54 percent rate of possession in the attacking zone in the first half.
To open the second half, Carter would be put through her paces again, stopping four Marauder shots before the 66th minute.
Marin Hensley would fire a rocket towards Fischer in the 47th minute with the Mary keeper making the stop. Mary would score on a breakaway from Spruenken in the 76th minute to make their lead three goals. Gardner started the fast pace with a touch pass to Spruenken. It would not be long until the Marauders scored again, netting a goal off the leg of MaLiah Burke in the 81st minute. The score would be the match's final points as the Marauders moved to 4-1 on the season.
Carter finished the game with a career-high 16 saves, besting her previous high of 12 set on September 16, 2022 against Augustana. Carter, Hensley and
Sara Alfrida Munk Nielsen went the full 90 minutes for MSUM in the game.
Up Next
MSUM (0-5-1) is back on the road for conference action next weekend against Winona State and Concordia, St. Paul. The weekend begins with the Warriors in a 5 p.m. match on Friday.
