JACKRABBITS CLAIM TOUGH WIN OVER COUGARS

Thursday, August 20

Brookings, S.D.

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

3-0-0, 0-0-0

Washington State

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Washington State	0	0	0
South Dakota State	2	1	3

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia Sports Media

8/20/2026 10:06:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State scored two first-half goals, and withstood constant second-half pressure, to eventually complete a 3-0 victory against Washington State on Thursday at Fishback Soccer Park.

It was a back-and-forth affair in the early going with neither side producing a shot in across the opening 13 minutes of play. SDSU's first shot via penalty kick in the 14th minute.

Junior midfielder Zoe Wittkop was drug down by a defender while she ran through the box as a crossing pass came across. SDSU head coach Brock Thompson challenged the no call on the field, and after video review, a penalty kick was awarded to the Jacks. Another junior midfielder in Mia Bosch stepped up for the opportunity and converted, putting SDSU ahead 1-0.

It took another 17 minutes without a shot recorded before Washington State had its best scoring chance. A play in the box for the Cougars saw one of their attackers tripped chasing for the ball. A review initiated by Wazzu this time saw the Cougs awarded with a penalty kick of their own.

WSU"s Maycen Slater came up for the attempt, but her shot went wide of the goal, past a diving SDSU keeper in Mallorie Benhart to keep the score knotted at 1-0.

The game changed for good less than a minute later. The 32nd minute saw a Washington State clearance attempt stepped in front of by SDSU's Lauren Eckerle. The graduate student defender struck a shot towards goal from roughly 30 yards out. Her kick saw the ball deflect off the top of the cross bar and into the back of the net to put the Jackrabbits on top, 2-0.

The score remained the same over the final 13 minutes of the half. SDSU went into the break with just a 2-1 edge in shots over the Cougars.

Wazzu continued to push against the South Dakota State defense. Benhart made saves in the 54th minute and 65th minute to keep the clean sheet intact for the Jacks.

The Cougs outshot the Jackrabbits by a 6-5 margin the second half, but couldn't put muster a quality attempt to cut the deficit to a goal difference. SDSU put the game out of reach officially in the 88th minute. A Jackrabbit throw-in by Abbi Gibbs found the feet of Katelyn Beulke. She quickly passed it to Deizha Lyn Jacinto who had subbed on to the pitch just seconds prior. Jacinto raced past the Cougars' back line and had a 1-on-1 opportunity versus the Wazzu kicker. She swiftly booted a shot into the net to clinch the 3-0 win for the Jackrabbits.

South Dakota State improved to 3-0 on the season with the victory. Washington State fell to 1-2 overall. It was the teams' first ever meeting.

NOTES

SDSU had two defenders in Eckerle and Sophia Emerson play the full 90 minutes. Hannah Langstaff (76) and Jenna Maloy (74) followed for most minutes on the pitch. Gibbs and Taryn Hettich led the Jacks off the bench playing 41 minutes, respectively.
The shutout performance was the third straight to begin the season for the program.
Bosch, Eckerle and Jacinto each have two goals apiece on the season. Bosch has a team-high seven points through three matches.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits travel to Manhattan, Kan., for their first road match of the season. SDSU will face Kansas State at Buser Family Park starting at 1 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-