Preston honored by Summit League

SIOUX FALLS – The Summit League announced South Dakota State's Rachel Preston as its Defensive Player of the Week Monday afternoon, capping an impressive week for the Jackrabbits' sophomore.

Preston played all 180 minutes in a pair of shutout victories for the Jacks, topping Northern Iowa, 2-0, and Northern Illinois, 3-0, on the road. SDSU has now won five straight contests with seven shutouts on the year.

"I thought our defensive effort as a whole was impressive this weekend," head coach Brock Thompson said. "Rachel was a key part of our success as we took on a pair of tough nonleague opponents, and it is great to see her efforts recognized."

The Lakeville, Minnesota native anchored State's defensive unit over the two games, limiting the Panthers to three shots on goal Friday before a record-setting performance against the Huskies on Sunday. The Jacks limited NIU to just one shot throughout the contest, matching a program-best feat that had occurred just two times, prior. The last time came in 2010 against UMKC.

This is the first weekly award for Preston in her Jackrabbit career, and the third weekly honor for an SDSU student-athlete in 2019. Maggie Smither (defensive) and Leah Manuleleua (offensive) picked up the league nods a week ago.

South Dakota State returns to the pitch Saturday as New Mexico State comes to town for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The nonleague finale is also the first-ever GOALD Game at SDSU, as the Jackrabbits and Sanford Children's Cure Kids Cancer! have teamed up to raise awareness and support during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. More information on the game can be found here.

-GoJacks.com-

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Leah Manuleleua

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Maggie Smither

Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus Northern State on April 19, 2026 ,

Completed Event: Women's Soccer at Sioux Falls on April 15, 2026 ,

Completed Event: Women's Soccer at Augustana on April 9, 2026 ,

Completed Event: Women's Soccer at Minnesota on March 28, 2026 ,

Completed Event: Women's Soccer at Nebraska on March 7, 2026 ,

Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus Alumni Game on March 1, 2026 ,

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