University of Mary Women’s Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee and three time All-American, Sarah Cook, returned to her alma mater in 2012 to take the helm of the Marauders women’s soccer program.  Cook is just the fifth women’s soccer head coach at UMary since the program started in 1995.

Cook has coached several players earning NSIC All-Conference honors such as: Michelle Jones, Ashley Akers, Alex Bachman-Williams, Dre Muller, Michelle McGeary, Shelby Buttron, Caitlin Dooley, Megan Lowery, Caylin Cathey, Kylee Welch, Jade Smith, Libby Patterson, Malia Brudvik, Kayla Alcott, Cassidy Pierce, Sam Guzman,

In Megan Searson, set the NCAA record (across all divisions) for the fastest goal in NCAA History at 3 seconds against University of Minnesota, Crookston.

The 2017 season was quite successful for the Marauders.  Cook lead the team to a record of 12-5-2.  The team earned the 5th seed in the NSIC Conference Tournament and made it to the semi-finals.  The team tallied 6 shutouts and a 1.63 goals scored per game average. 

In 2018, the Marauders found their way back to the NSIC Semifinal after eliminating NSIC #1, and NCAA #4 Bemidji State in a thrilling PK Shootout.  Freshman Goalkeeper, Madisyn Waltman, made two big saves during the shootout to push the Marauders back to the NSIC Semifinal.

The 2019 season was full of record breaking achievements for the Marauders. Finishing the season 11-4-3, and ending their season in a PK shootout in the NSIC tournament. The team was ranked in the NCAA Central Region top 10 all season long. The Marauders beat University of Minnesota, Mankato, for the first time in program history with a 2-1 defeat at home. Mankato was ranked fourth in the country at the time, which was the programs biggest win over an national ranked team. The Marauders also set a record by scoring the most goals in a single game, defeating University of Minnesota, Crookston 7-0. 

Another record the Marauders earned in the 2019 season is the fewest goals allowed in program history, only allowing 10, which had a Goals Allowed Average of .53 per game. This ranked the Marauders in the top 13 in all of NCAA DII. Goalkeeper Madisyn Waltman will get credit for that single season record, and Defender Malia Brudvik tied a single season assists record with 9.

In 2021, The Marauders finished the NSIC season at 8-5-2, making the NSIC Conference tournament for the 4th season in a row (no season was played in 2020 due to COVID).  The Marauders lost a hard fought match to the #25 University of Minnesota, Mankato 1-0, in the Quarterfinals of the NSIC tournament.  Madisyn Waltman tied a school record of 25 career shutouts (tying Kristen Werner 2001-2004).

An assistant coach for the Marauders for three seasons (2009-2011), Cook helped the Marauders maintain their status as one of the top teams in the Northern Sun. U-Mary finished in the top five and posted a winning record and advanced to the NSIC tournament each year she was on the bench as the team’s top assistant.

In her first five years as head coach at Century High School in Bismarck, N.D., Cook directed the Patriots to state championships in 2007 and 2011. CHS also won four regional titles (2007-08, 2010-11). She coached the team from 2007 through 2012.

The winner of several coaching honors, Cook earned the US Youth Soccer Girls National Competitive Coach of the Year, Region II Girls Competitive Coach of the Year and the North Dakota Girls Competitive Coach of the Year honors in 2010.

A three-time All-American and three-time team captain at U-Mary when she was known as Sarah McNulty, she led the Marauders to NAIA national tournament appearances and Region III championships in 2002-04. A third-team All-American selection and the Region III Player of the Year in 2003, Cook earned honorable mention All-American honors in 2002 and 2004. She was U-Mary’s team captain and a first team All-Region selection in 2002-04. In her four seasons Cook recorded 35 assists, second all-time at U-Mary. Including 11 goals, she registered 57 points, 11th all-time for the Marauders.

Cook is twice a University of Mary graduate, earning a secondary education degree in biology (‘05) and a master's degree in Kinesiology - Sports and Physical Education Administration (‘15). She also is a coach for Region II Olympic Development Girls’ Program. Sarah holds a USSF “A” License, USSF Goalkeeping License, and USSF Youth License from the United States Soccer Federation.  In 2016, Cook was inducted into the University of Mary Hall of Fame for being a distinguished athlete for Women’s Soccer. Sarah is married to David Cook and the couple have two daughters named Emma and Harper.  

Sarah Cook's record at UMary

Year

Overall

Northern Sun

2012

10-8

10-5

2013

4-10-4

4-6-4

2014   

6-8-4

5-7-3

2015

3-12-2

3-11-1

2016   

4-10-3

4-9-2

2017

12-5-2

9-4-2

2018

8-8-3

7-6-2

2019  

11-4-3

9-4-2

2020

2-2

0-0

2021

9-7-3

8-5-2

2022

10-5-4

7-4-4

2023

10-8-3

7-5-2

Total

89-87-31

73-66-24