STRONG EFFORT CARRIES JACKS IN LEAGUE OPENER

Sunday, September 29

Omaha, Neb.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

8-2-1, 1-0-0

Omaha

6-2-3, 0-1-1

South Dakota St.

Omaha

Jenna Hallen

9/29/2024 3:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

OMAHA, Neb. — South Dakota State scored often, matching a season-high total, as the Jackrabbits rolled to a 4-1 victory over Omaha at Caniglia Field on Sunday. The match was the Summit League opener for SDSU while the Mavericks fell to 0-1-1 in conference play.

The first half didn't see many chances for either side as the two teams combined for just two shots on goal. Those two each found the back of the net with both goals tallied by the Jacks.

The fourth minute saw SDSU jump on the scoreboard first. An SDSU pass slipped through the Omaha defense to Katelyn Beulke at the top of the box. She chipped the ball to Hailee Christensen who easily kicked it into the net to make it 1-0.

SDSU extended the advantage to 2-0 in the 41st minute. Adrianne Agbayani maneuvered past multiple Mavericks into the right side of the box. She crossed a pass in front of goal and Jenna Hallen knocked a shot past the pipes.

Omaha briefly made it a one-goal affair just two minutes into the second half, however the Jackrabbits responded a minute later. The Mavericks had the ball deep on their side of the field and tried to clear it. A misdirected kick landed at the feet of Laney Murdzek. She launched a shot from long distance that found its way past a diving goalkeeper to give SDSU a 3-1 edge in the 48th minute.

The Jackrabbits dealt with some late-match pressure from the Maverick attack. SDSU goalkeeper Emma Knack, who played the entire second half, made three saves. The Jacks sealed the contest in the 90th minute with a counter-attack goal. Murdzek kicked in a shot past the hard-charging Omaha keeper to give her a brace as the Jacks capped a 4-1 victory.

SDSU improved to 8-2-1 with the win while picking up a victory in its conference opener. Omaha dropped to 6-2-3.

NOTES

South Dakota State outshot Omaha 17-12 in the match which included a 7-4 edge in shots on goal. Both teams had three corner kick opportunities.
Murdzek's two goals represented the first brace of her college career. It's the team's second of the season with the first being Beulke's brace in an Aug. 29 victory over Western Illinois.
Beulke is now up to a team-high 11 points (four goals, three assists) on the season. Christensen scored her third goal of the season, while Hallen's five points (two goals, one assist) are a career high.
The back line of Kaycee Manding, Hayley Lindaman and Lauren Eckerle played 90 minutes apiece. Katherine Jones played 83 out of the midfield. Solala Nasu competed for the most among SDSU's reserves with 38 minutes on the pitch.
The four goals scored by the Jackrabbits match their season-high four SDSU scored in a 4-0 victory over Wayne State. They're the most goals in a Summit League regular season match since the 2022 season, a 4-1 victory at Western Illinois.
SDSU improved to 17-1-1 all-time in Summit League-opening matches.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State returns home to continue Summit League action. The Jackrabbits take on Kansas City at Fishback Soccer Park on Thursday at 6 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-