Kearney, Neb. – Jessica Curl scored a goal 10 minutes into the game to help the University of Mary (N.D.) beat the Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

The Marauders, from Bismarck, N.D., improve to 1-0 while the Lopers drop to 1-1.

Pushing the action early, Mary got on the board when Alyssa Deutcher found Curl on the right wing and she kicked the ball in from about 20 yards out.

Over the first 20 minutes, the Marauders – who went 11-10-1 in 2008, out shot UNK 6-0. For the day Mary out shot the Lopers 15-1.

However, UNK's lone shot almost tied the contest. With about 12 minutes to play, sophomore forward Morgan Abert (Waupaca, Wis.) passed the ball to freshman midfielder Alicia Crawford (Kearney). With a defender draped over her, Crawford managed a shot from about 10 yards out that was just wide of the goal

Fremont freshman Marissa Niday suffered her first loss in goal but she did keep UNK in the game by recording seven saves.

Late in the first half, junior KyAnn Rasmussen had a violent collision with Mary's Markelle Gallagher as both went for the ball. While Rasmussen got up, Gallagher stayed down and was eventually taken from the field via a backboard. She was up and moving in the 2nd half but didn't return to game action.

UNK takes its first-ever road trip next weekend when it goes to Aberdeen, S.D., to face host Northern State and Minnesota State-Moorhead.