Soccer wins Summit opener in golden-goal fashion

Friday, September 29

Denver, Colo.

7 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. CT

South Dakota State University

4-4-3, 1-0-0Summit

Denver

4-7-1, 0-1-0Summit

OT 2

South Dakota State

Denver

Photo by: Mark Shaiken

9/29/2017 10:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

DENVER – South Dakota State women's soccer used goals from Nicole Hatcher and Marisa Schulz to claim a 2-1 overtime win Friday in its Summit League opener at Denver.

SDSU (4-4-3, 1-0 Summit League) pushed its unbeaten streak to four games, earning a hard-fought road victory in which the Jackrabbits outshot Denver, 15-13. The Pioneers drop to 4-7-1 and are 0-1 in league play.

In addition to her goal, Hatcher joined Annie Williams and Darien Poelstra in the assist column for SDSU while Leah Manuleleua paced the team with four shots.

Maggie Smither tallied six saves over 96 minutes between the pipes.

"This was a true Summit League battle and a great game," head coach Brock Thompson said. "Denver started fast and was rewarded with the early goal, and we responded with great composure and grit. Maggie made a game-saving play moments before our counter attack, and Marisa made a big-time play as a freshman in overtime."

Denver was the aggressor early, using a pair of corner kicks in the opening two minutes to threaten the Jackrabbit defense before breaking through at 4:44 when DU's Jessie Dancy scored her seventh goal of the campaign.

Looking for a quick answer after falling behind 1-0, SDSU picked up the tempo of play but things stayed even until the second half, when it was State's turn to get off to a fast start.

Off a Pioneer foul in the 48th, Williams sent a free kick from 35 yards out into the middle of the box where Hatcher waited, putting a header past the keeper into the lower right corner of the net.

Back-and-forth play ensued the rest of regulation, though SDSU nearly found the game-winner in the 90th off another set piece. With time winding down, Jennie Scislow hit a corner kick into the box and Manuleleua struck it clean, only to have a Pioneer deflect the shot at the goal line.

Midway through overtime, Denver had a game-winning chance of its own from the box, but Smither dove and got a hand on the ball to send it wide.

On the ensuing Jackrabbit possession (after a Pioneer corner kick), Schulz ended things for State when Hatcher and Poelstra sent consecutive through balls towards the top of the box, and Schulz used her speed to beat the keeper and finish with a low shot towards the right post at 95:25.

Game Notes

Nicole Hatcher has scored a goal in four consecutive games.
Marisa Schulz netted her second career goal and first game-winner.
Nicole Hatcher recorded career assist No. 19, putting her within two of the school's career assist record of 21, held by Diana Potterveld.
SDSU has now won five consecutive Summit League openers. The Jacks are 10-1 all-time in Summit League openers.

Up Next
SDSU wraps up nonconference play this Sunday when Bellevue comes to Fishback Soccer Park. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-