Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The visiting University of Mary Marauders matched Northern State University shot for shot, save for save and goal for goal on Sunday afternoon, resulting in NSU's third straight double-overtime tie as the two teams battled to a 2-2 draw in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference soccer opener for both teams.  NSU took a 2-1 lead into halftime, but Mary's Megan Wilson bagged her second goal of the game in the 12th minute of the second half to even out the game.

The tie was the third straight for the Wolves, who are now unbeaten in their last five games.  NSU is 2-3-3 on the season and 0-0-1 in NSIC play, while the Marauders moved to 2-2-2 overall and 0-0-1 in the conference.

NSU's Aleasha DeVaney put the Wolves on the board first, sending a long wind-aided kick at the goal from midfield just under 12 minutes into the game.  The ball then bounced over U-Mary goalkeeper Carly Feiler and into the net for DeVaney's first goal of the season.

The Marauders wasted little time in answering with Wilson's first tally of the season at the 16:27 mark, but the Wolves responded less than 12 minutes later, taking the 2-1 edge on Lexi Jares' second strike of the season.  Jares took a long cross from midfielder Summer Swan and skirted a sliding Feiler before sending a bouncing shot toward the net.  Two Marauder defenders gave chase to the ball, but were unable to catch up, as the ball crossed the goal line to put the Wolves on top.

Wilson then tied the game in the 57th minute, taking advantage of a corner kick from teammate Megan Helrung and slipping the ball past NSU goalkeeper Dee Wood for the tie.

The Marauders nearly tied things up late in the first half on another corner kick opportunity.  Helrung again sent the ball into the middle, where Sami Axtman got off a shot that got past Wood, but a leaping header save from the NSU defense saved the goal and preserved the lead for the Wolves.

Both teams played nearly identical statistical games.  The Marauders did have a distinct edge in corner kicks, taking nine corners to NSU's three.  U-Mary was also handed a pair of yellow cards in the match.

DeVaney and sophomore Kaylee McDonald had four shots apiece to pace the Wolves' offense, while Wolson had five shots and fellow striker Alyssa Deutscher added four for the Marauders.  Both keepers registered four saves apiece,

The Wolves remain at home next weekend to host Augustana and Wayne State in a pair of key NSIC matchups.  The Vikings roll in for a 11 a.m. kickoff on Saturday, while the WSC Wildcats will be in town for a 1 p.m. match on Sunday.  Both games will be held at NSU's Jerde Field.