“We played them tight the first time, so we had some confidence coming into this one,” Mercy head coach Tom James said. “It was a great team effort and hopefully something to build on as we finish out our league schedule,” he added.

Audrey Guyot score on a 30-yard free kick with 14:15 remaining in the game, dropping a ball just under the crossbar for the game’s only goal.

The game was a test of wills in bad weather. Neither team was able to generate consistent scoring opportunities, though Marian had the better of the ball and the run of play. The Mustangs were able to create some chances, coming closest late in the first half on a ball that just missed from point blank range.

“That was the challenge we were going to have this year is finding ways to score goals. We’ll just keep working on it. We’re trying to embrace the challenge,” Marian head coach Reid Friedrichs said. “We had two or three breakaways. We had crosses and corners. We’ve just got to find ways to score goals.”

But the Marlins were able to maintain their shape defensively and got surehanded goalkeeping from Ainsley Henderson on what was a wet evening to play in.

“I thought they (Mercy) made it hard on us,” Friedrichs said. “They made the middle of the field condensed and made it hard for us to do what we wanted to do.”

Midfielders Liz Memmer and Jenna Jallad led a gritty two-way effort for Mercy, and forward Addison Cervenan chased after seemingly every long ball, trying to create opportunities for the Marlins. But Mercy’s best chances came on set pieces and turnovers.  Mercy’s pressure nearly paid off right after half time when a turnover created a great chance for Memmer, who let fly with a shot that Marian goalkeeper Charlie Bingham did well to turn over the crossbar.