SDSU Advances to Summit League Championship Game

Thursday, November 6

Denver, Colo.

4:00 PM

South Dakota State University

North Dakota State

11/6/2014 6:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: SDSU Sports Info

DENVER, COLO. — Playing in her first postseason game as a Jackrabbit, Tori Poole had an afternoon to remember.

The freshman midfielder scored twice to lift the South Dakota State women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over North Dakota State in the Summit League Championship semifinals Thursday afternoon at CIBER Field. With the win, the Jackrabbits advance to the finals for the first time since 2009.

“To be honest, when I first came out, I was super nervous,” Poole said. “It was a huge game, especially [against] one of our rivals, and I couldn't have done it without my team.”

In the game's opening minute, South Dakota State worked the ball into the North Dakota State end. Stationed just outside of the box, Poole corralled a Diana Potterveld pass and threaded the ball past an outstretched Sierra Bonham into the lower right corner of the net.

Poole's goal, scored 41 seconds into the match, was the quickest in program history; the previous record was 45 seconds set by Jennifer Briggs in 2002. It was also the fastest goal in the history of the Summit League Tournament.

The Jackrabbits outshot the Bison, 9-3, in the first half. North Dakota State's best scoring opportunity came in the 31^st minute when the Bison took advantage of tic-tac-toe passing to get Brittany Mueller a clear look at the net, but her shot sailed over the crossbar.

In the 55^th minute, Poole almost netted her second goal of the game. Draped by defenders, Potterveld laced a pass to the trailing midfielder, but her shot went just wide.

Poole wouldn't be denied less than four minutes later. After a failed North Dakota State clear, she darted in to one-time a bouncing ball past Bonham from about eight yards out. Poole's two goals set a new career high. She had two goals on the season going into the contest.

The Bison drew within one in the 80^th minute by capitalizing on a free kick deep in the South Dakota State end. North Dakota State began to press from that point on, keeping the ball pinned in the Jackrabbit end and firing shots on net. In the end, Ashley Adams managed to clear the ball up the field to prevent the Bison from having a look on net in the last two minutes.

South Dakota State limited North Dakota State to nine shots while taking 14. Nicole Inskeep made two saves to earn her first postseason win of her collegiate career.

The Jackrabbits will play for the Summit League Tournament crown against the winner of the IUPUI/Denver game Saturday at 1 p.m. MT.