INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian women's soccer team grinded out a physical 1-0 shutout win at St. Vincent Field on Saturday night against Aquinas College, winning the NAIA Opening Round for the second consecutive season. The Knights lone goal came from Chloe Ulmer in the 49th minute of the match, as the Knights played rock solid on defense to preserve the shutout win. Marian is 20-2 overall entering the national tournament final site.
Aquinas started out as the agressors in the championship game, taking the first two shots of the night. Marian's defense was able clear after the early rush, and picked up a shot in the eighth minute on a free kick, but the look from Mackenzie Hall missed wide. Hall engineered Marian's next shot attempt on a beautifully placed corner, and after the kick bounced off Braeleigh McCoy's mitts, Chloe Ulmer was in the right position for a header, but she missed the look just left.
Marian picked up their pace with a strong surge and put together several strong runs in the final 20 minutes of the first half, picking up a shot on goal from Erin Oleksak in the 28th minute, but her attempt was gobbled by the keepr in front of the right post. Maya Decker took Marian's second shot on goal in the 33rd minute of the match, but her strong strike was caught by keeper Braeliegh McCoy. Alexis Patenaude made a stand in the waning minutes of the first half coming up with a save to keep the game scoreless.
Marian and Aquinas each had five shot attempts in the first half as the game reached intermission scoreless, with Marian holding a 2-1 advantage on attempts on goal. Both teams were called for two yellow cards in the first half.
Looking to start the second half right, Marian pushed ahead from the opening kick of the half. A foul halted play just entering the 49th minute of play, and Sydney Genatempo blasted a free kick ahead from near mid-field, and after a deflection Ulmer gathered the ball 10 yards out. Ulmer was intially called offside after sending a shot through the back of the net, but after a discussion between the officials, the referee ruled that Ulmer was on, giving Marian a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute. Genatempo picked up an assist on the goal, as Ulmer netted her 45th career score.
The Knights continued their attack looking to pad the lead, but runs by the Marian forwards ended in shots missing high from Allie Schlom and Jacelyn Smith. The Saints made a solid run for 10 minutes pressing Marian's backline resulting in three close range shots from Sydney Shenk and Ariana Garcia, but backup keeper Noelle Rolfsen came up with a pair of saves to keeper a zero on the board.
Marian attempted to put the game away in the final 15 with an insurance goal from Naomi Walters, as the freshman had two strong runs on the net, but Walters was unable to sink a goal, putting each shot high of the net. Without the insurance goal, Marian's defense anchored down for the final 10 minutes, allowing just three shot attempts in the waning moments. Rolfsen made a crucial save with exactly 60 seconds remaining, denying Emma Gray of a goal. Marian kept the ball away from Aquinas in the final minute, locking down the shutout win.
Oleksak led Marian in shot attempts with four, and Ulmer had two, with her only attempt on goal counting as the game-winner. Rolfsen was credited with the win in net, and made five saves in the win. Patenaude made one save in Marian's win.
Marian will learn their opponent for the final site on Sunday afternoon. The Knights will be the No. 5 overall seed at the final site in Foley, Ala.
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