JACKRABBITS MAKE STRIDES DURING SPRING

The spring of 2023 threw plenty of obstacles in the way of the South Dakota State soccer team. From a reduced schedule due to a late departing winter along with ever-changing number of players available throughout training and competition, the Jackrabbits saw it all. However, head coach Brock Thompson's squad still developed and participated at a high level in order to make it a positive spring session and make the turn to summer.

"I'm really proud of our team," Thompson said. "I think they worked extremely hard. There were some real challenges with weather and some different things that were outside of our control. We went through a strength and conditioning transition and just proud of our players' ability to just continue to show up and work and get better. I think that speaks to the leadership and maturity of our team."

SDSU's 2022 season ended in late October, so a three-month break from team activities on the pitch required plenty of training to get back in the swing of foundational components when the group got back together in February. The following three months of work werre about a little bit of everything for the Jackrabbits.

"(We were) focusing on a couple different things in the spring," said fifth-year senior and captain Maya Hansen. "Just working collectively defensively, growing our connections."

"The spring is about growth for us, both individually – we're able to spend a little bit more time on individual principles with players which is rewarding – but also as a team," Thompson said. "Just the ability to be a little bit more adaptable, to playing in different ways, while being true to our objectives."

Working on connectedness took on a whole new meaning throughout the winter months that seemed to reach into the customary spring.

A set of six opponents were set for the Jackrabbits for their spring training schedule. Circumstances created a variety of alterations to their plans. However, SDSU made the most of its opportunities when it had them and took advantage of what the program does have to work with.

"The SJAC has been a real blessing," Thompson said of the athletic department's indoor training facility. He noted the limitations the program faced prior to the building of the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex and recognizes some of the caveats that still come with it because of the sport they compete in.

"I tell people all the time, 'lane 8 to lane 8 would be the width of a soccer field. If you go north and south, it's 2.5 yard line to 2.5 yard line to get full width.' So there are some challenges to going back to a regulation field for us. I was really proud of how our team handled doing that with some of the games we played on the road and not a lot of time on the pitch."

The Jackrabbits' spring slate featured matchups against Division I foes in Iowa and Drake, both of which SDSU finished ahead of on the scoreboard in the exhibition format.

Thompson said a lot of the results he saw for the program this spring came from a group that has stuck together.

"Maya's been incredible and our Leadership Council has been really impactful this year," Thompson said. "I think the connectedness of the team has been really tight. I love the fact that our numbers this spring have been similar to a pre-COVID season which has really helped the connectedness.

"The real challenge (now) is to maintain that over the summer as we scatter a little bit and then bring the new players into our environment."

South Dakota State, coming off another strong campaign in 2022, is currently expected to bring nine newcomers into the fold in 2023. Hansen is one of eight Jackrabbits entering their fourth or fifth years in the SDSU program. That does mean a lot of cohesion will have to take place, but it's something the returners are looking forward to.

"I'm super excited," Hansen said of bringing in a collection of unfamiliar faces. "We're adding a bunch of new players, so it'll be fun to incorporate them into our team. To bring in 9-10 players into such a close-knit team like ours and to build those connections will be great for our Jackrabbit family."

As the 2023 spring semester winds down, things wrap up for the team with meetings this week. A majority of players will participate with club teams over the summer months before returning to campus ahead of the fall semester. It'll be a quick turnaround when everybody comes together, but one the Jackrabbits are already eager to embrace.

"The real challenge becomes our first practice as a team is August 1 and our first preseason competition is on August 8," Thompson said. "There's a lot of responsibility for our players to do the right things over the summer.

"That's the best part of the thing about this group. There's a tremendous amount of trust in each of them that that is going to happen."

-GoJacks.com-

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Maya Hansen

Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus Northern State on April 19, 2026 at 1 p.m.

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 ,

Completed Event: Women's Soccer at #5 Iowa on November 14, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1

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