Five straight for women's soccer

Friday, October 7

Brookings, S.D.

6 p.m.

South Dakota State University

7-4-1 (2-0-0)

Western Illinois

3-8-1 (1-2-0)

Team	1	2	Final F
Western Illinois	0	0	0
South Dakota State	0	2	2

Photo by: Mark Smither

10/7/2016 8:58:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

A fall chill in the air wasn't enough to slow the South Dakota State women's soccer team as it posted its fifth-straight victory, taking down Western Illinois 2-0 on Friday at Fishback Soccer Park.

In addition to extending its winning streak, SDSU (7-4-1, 2-0-0 Summit League) posted its second consecutive game with 20-plus shots (finishing with 23) and minus-five shots allowed (WIU had just four).

"Playing in the Summit League games we know it's going to be a grind, so I was really proud of the girls that after a sort of lackluster first half we came out in the second half, put a lot of pressure on and found a way to get a result tonight," head coach Lang Wedemeyer said. "That's really what conference play is all about."

Nicole Hatcher continued her individual hot streak as well, scoring her third goal of the season and notching a point in her fifth straight game. Hatcher led the team with five shots, putting two on goal while playing 70 minutes.

Darien Poelstra made the most of her one shot, recording her first career goal in a Jackrabbit uniform late in the half, while Tori Poole and Madison Yueill each had four shots as part of the offensive onslaught.

Maggie Smither improved to 5-0-1 in the net, playing the final 45 minutes after Nicole Inskeep earned the start and played the first half. Both keepers recorded a save.

On the defensive side, the Jackrabbits' back row saw Lindsee Larson, Ashley Adams and Alexa Hepner play all 90 minutes while McKenzie Wolf started and played 87. SDSU's defense has allowed just seven shots total in the previous two games. In Friday's game, SDSU held the Leathernecks without a shot for nearly the final 40 minutes (third shot was in 52nd minute).

SDSU fired early and often, but didn't break through until the second half when Hatcher recorded her team-leading 12th point of the season. At the half, SDSU led the shot battle 9-2 with one save.

Hatcher broke the stalemate in the 66th minute, dribbling through a trio of WIU defenders at the top box towards the upper right corner of the goal box, where she ripped a shot past the diving keeper towards the low post for an unassisted goal.

The teams played relatively even over the next 19 minutes before Poelstra added an insurance goal at 84:12, scoring unassisted from 30 yards out to give the Jacks a two-goal advantage, which held to the end.

What's Next
South Dakota State looks for its sixth consecutive win (and third Summit League victory) on Sunday, welcoming Oral Roberts to Fishback Soccer Park for a 1 p.m., start.

Game Notes

SDSU won its opening two games in conference play for the fourth consecutive season, completing the feat in 2013, 2014 and 2015. SDSU has started 2-0 in conference play in eight of its 10 seasons playing in the Summit League.
The Jackrabbits have recorded three consecutive shutouts and four shutouts in its previous five games. That is the longest shutout streak for SDSU since Oct. 4-16 of last season when SDSU also had three straight clean sheets (with four in five games that time as well).
Nicole Hatcher's five consecutive games recording a point is tied for third longest in school history, just one shy of matching Diana Potterveld's six-game school record streaks that she accomplished twice both the 2015 and 2014 seasons. Courtney Higgins (2009) and Kellyn Farrell (2006) both have streaks of five straight games with a goal.