North Dakota State and North Dakota win 1-0 in final regular season matches
Two South Dakota teams dropped their season closers on Sunday, with North Dakota State securing the top seed in Pod A.
By Emmanuel Faure ·
South Dakota women's soccer lost 1-0 to North Dakota on Sunday afternoon at First Bank & Trust Soccer Complex in Vermillion. The loss concludes the Yotes' regular season with a 6-7-5 overall record and a 3-4-3 mark in Summit League play.
The teams finished the first half without a goal, although South Dakota held a 9-5 advantage in shots. North Dakota broke the tie in the 67th minute when Cora Ellermann scored on a penalty kick. The Yotes outshot the Fighting Hawks 19-16 for the full 90 minutes, including a 7-3 lead in shots on goal. Klarissa Vega and Brooke Conway each registered two shots on goal for South Dakota, while goalkeeper Cambell Fischer made two saves.
In a separate match at Fishback Soccer Park in Brookings, North Dakota State defeated South Dakota State 1-0. The Bison had won three consecutive games prior to the match and entered with a 4-3-2 record in league play. South Dakota State held 17 points with a 5-2-2 record and needed a result other than a loss to secure an automatic bid to the Summit League Championship semifinals.
North Dakota State struck first in the 22nd minute. Ava Stanchina crossed the ball from a corner kick, and Gabrielle Garrett headed it into the net for the winning goal. South Dakota State goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart made two saves in the opening 12 minutes. The Jackrabbits won a penalty kick in the 37th minute after a handball call, but their attempt went over the crossbar. South Dakota State led 12-5 in shots at halftime.
The second half ended without a goal. Both teams recorded six shots in the final 45 minutes. South Dakota State finished the season 10-5-3 overall and 5-3-2 in conference play. North Dakota State ended the year 7-6-6 overall and 5-3-2 in the Summit League. Both teams finished with 17 conference points, but North Dakota State received the tiebreaker based on their previous fall meeting in Fargo.
Benhart finished with five saves for South Dakota State, while North Dakota State goalkeeper Peyton Mulberry made six. Mia Bosch and Jenna Maloy each took three shots for the Jackrabbits, with Bosch recording two on goal. Maloy and Sophia Emerson played the full 90 minutes. Abbi Gibbs logged a reserve-high 65 minutes.
South Dakota will travel to Omaha, Nebraska, to face the Omaha team in the Summit League quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and the match will stream on the Summit League Network. The winner advances to the Summit League semifinals.
South Dakota State hosts St. Thomas at Fishback Soccer Park on Friday at 6 p.m. The Jackrabbits finished second in Pod A and will face the third-place team from Pod B. The winner of that match moves to the tournament finals site in Tulsa, Okla., to compete in the semifinal against host Oral Roberts.
