MACOMB, Illinois – South Dakota State won its fifth straight game in impressive fashion Sunday, shutting out Western Illinois 3-0 on the road.
The Jackrabbits (7-4-3) outshot the Leathernecks, 17-7, and pushed their unbeaten streak to seven games behind a four-point game from
Nicole Hatcher.
Hatcher moved into first all-time in career assists at SDSU and climbed into the top five of career points in the game, scoring her sixth goal of the season alongside a pair of assists.
Annie Williams and
Tori Poole recorded goals as well, with
Leah Manuleleua picking up her third assist of the year.
Maggie Smither started at goalkeeper and recorded two saves over 77 minutes before
Taylor Lock entered to close out the game.
The Jackrabbits started fast and took a 2-0 lead less than 15 minutes into the game, netting the game's first goal at 9:36 when Williams took a pass from Hatcher and finished into the left corner of the net. Less than five minutes later, Hatcher hit a cross from outside the box into a scrum of players, connecting with the head of Poole for the score.
Up two at the break, State tacked on another goal in the 64th when Manuleleua set up Hatcher for a one-touch score, drawing the defenders attention in the box before sliding a pass to the feet of Hatcher.
Game Notes
- South Dakota State have started league play 3-0 for the third consecutive season. SDSU has been 3-0 in Summit League play five times in its history.
- Nicole Hatcher took over the top spot on the school's career assist list, passing Diana Potterveld (21 assists from 2012-15). Hatcher now has 22 assists wearing a Jackrabbit uniform.
- Nicole Hatcher moved into the top five in career points with her four-point day and now has 58 career points. She passed Kayla Braffett (56 from 2008-11) and Kelsey Worcester (57 from 2004-07) in the match.
- The Jackrabbits are now 11-1-1 all-time with Western Illinois, winning seven straight.
- State has allowed just nine shots over the last two games with three opponent shots on goal.
Up Next
South Dakota State returns home to host Fort Wayne Thursday at 6 p.m. before the final road game of the season on Sunday at Oral Roberts.
-GoJacks.com-