INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian women's soccer team saw their 2023 season come to a close on Saturday night at St. Vincent Field, as the Knights were defeated 3-1 in the NAIA National Tournament Second Round by No. 20 Truett-McConnell. The loss gives Marian a final record of 13-4-3 on the year.

Truett-McConnell held the advantage over the Knights throughout the first half, as the Bears offense out-matched the Knights early. The Bears countered off an early offside call against the Knights with a pair of shots in the first seven minutes of the match. In the 11th minute of the game, the scoring broke open as the Bears' Ella Weir played a long pass splitting the Knights defense, allowing Ashley Johnson to catch up with the ball and put away the opening goal on two touches.

Marian came up with a counter six minutes later, as the 17th minute saw Marian's lone goal of the game. Olivia Parmer won a scramble in the midfield and received a touch that deflected off the Truett defense. The Bears looked for an offside call as the flag from the assistant went up, but Parmer continued to play on as the flag was dropped, staying with the play to find the back of the net for her seventh goal of the season.

Truett had a response though as the goal was short-lived, answering Parmer's goal with one 80 seconds later, as Johnson connected on a pass from 18 yards away and slammed in her second goal of the match. The Knights failed to come up with an answer after the goal for the remaining 26 minutes of the first half, as just one corner kick was awarded and the team was called offside on an aggressive approach just once for the remainder of the period. Truett continued to look for a goal but were denied as Mycheala Johnson did her best to keep Marian in the game. The keeper made one save to close the half, while her defense kept the 2-1 score by blocking a pair of shots. 

In the second half Truett ramped up their offense again, taking an early shot in the 48th minute as they established control of the ball. The Bears were awarded a free kick near the left corner of the pitch in the 51st minute, and a pass from the wing connected to Megan Darden, putting the match out of reach with the score showing 3-1.

Marian's offense was unable to break through the Bears defenses, as they came up empty of an attempt at the net. The Knights earned two corner kicks in the second half, but the looks from Gretchen Mallin and Delaney Taylor into the box were cleared by the Bears' wall of defenders. Marian would put up zero shot attempts in the second half as their bell tolled, and the game went the way of Truett-McConnell in a 3-1 defeat.

Mycheala Johnson ended the game allowing three goals while making seven saves in the contest, as she was busy all night with Truett-McConnell out-shooting Marian 20-1 for the match. Parmer's lone shot attempt stood as Marian's only take of the game, with it going for a goal. 

The Knights end their season with an overall mark of 13-4-3, missing out on the NAIA National Tournament final site for the first time since 2018.

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