SDSU DEFEATS ORU TO CAP REGULAR SEASON

Saturday, November 1

Brookings, S.D.

5 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Omaha

Zoe Wittkop

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

10/26/2025 4:03:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: Andrew Pedersen

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — South Dakota State women's soccer closed out the regular season in thrilling fashion by edging Summit League regular season champion Oral Roberts, 3-2, on the road at the Kirkland Activities Complex. The Jackrabbits (10-2-6, 4-1-3 Summit) used a resilient performance and a second-half game-winner from sophomore Zoe Wittkop to hand the Golden Eagles (12-4-2, 6-1-1 Summit) their first conference loss of the season.

The match was a back-and-forth affair after an eventful opening 20 minutes of action.

SDSU jumped into the lead in the early moments of the contest. Mia Bosch took a corner kick opportunity in the fifth minute and sent the ball across the box. Lauren Eckerle received the ball and crossed a pass the opposite direction. Her pass found Lauren Walter who struck a shot into the net to make it 1-0. Just two minutes later, Ellie Gusman doubled the lead with an unassisted effort to put the Jackrabbits ahead, 2-0.

Oral Roberts responded quickly with goals in the ninth and 17th minutes to level the score at 2-2. The score remained at 2-2 after a first half that saw the Golden Eagles record 12 shots.

The decisive moment came just two minutes into the second half. A series of deflections saw the ball eventually end up with Zoe Wittkop. She booted a shot that deflected off a Golden Eagle and went in for a goal just as the time went into the 48th minute.

SDSU's defense held firm the rest of the way. Goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart recorded six total saves in the match, while the Jacks held ORU to two shots in the second half.

South Dakota State improved to 19-1-3 all-time over Oral Roberts with the victory.

NOTES

South Dakota State finished the regular season third in the conference standings with 15 points. Oral Roberts, which had already clinched at least a share of the regular season title on Thursday, will serve as the host of the championship in the semifinal and championship rounds with its 19 points earned.
Denver earned a 2-1 win over South Dakota on Sunday. The Pioneers earned a share of the regular season title with Oral Robers with their 19 points. ORU will be the tournament host, as well as the No. 1 seed, with the Golden Eagles' 1-0 regular season victory against Denver.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State will host a quarterfinal match as a part of the 2025 Summit League Women's Soccer Championship. The No. 3 seed Jackrabbits are currently scheduled to play No. 6 Omaha at Fishback Soccer Park at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. The winner of that match advances to the semifinal round hosted by Oral Roberts.

-GoJacks.com-