Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer at #1 Oral Roberts on November 9, 2025 at 1 p.m.
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1 p.m.
Women's Soccer
at #1 Oral Roberts
South Dakota State University Athletics
SDSU soccer heads east...
10/5/2011 9:24:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Game-13
Friday, Oct. 7, 2011
South Dakota State University (6-5-1; 2-0-0 SL) at Western Illinois (6-5-0; 0-2-0 SL)
Summit League Standings: SDSU, tied for first; WIU, ninth
John MacKenzie Alumni Field (Macomb, Ill.)
3:30 p.m. (Time local to event location)
Series: SDSU leads 4-1-1
Game-14
Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011
South Dakota State University (6-5-1; 2-0-0 SL)* at IUPUI (1-7-4; 0-1-1 SL)*
Summit League Standings: SDSU, tied for first; IUPUI, seventh
Kuntz Stadium (Indianapolis, Ind.)
1 p.m. (Time local to event location)
Series: SDSU leads 5-2-0
*Records do not include Friday's games (IUPUI hosted North Dakota State)
The South Dakota State women's soccer team is heading east for a pair of conference games this weekend to face Western Illinois and IUPUI on Friday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 9, respectively. Game times are set for 3:30 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
SDSU
enters the game with a 6-5-1 overall record, 2-0-0 in The Summit League. The Jacks got back on the winning track with a pair of victories this past weekend vs. Oral Roberts and Southern Utah. Both games were 2-0 decisions in favor of the Jacks.
Senior Kayla Braffet leads the offensive attack for the Jackrabbits with four goals, three assists, 42 shots and 19 shots on goal. Senior Kelsey Ferguson is second in all categories with three goals, two assists, 29 shots and 11 shots on goal. Senior Cori Bonte, junior Christa Nyblom and sophomore Abby Jurgens have each scored two goals. Senior Danielle Neuhalfen, junior Megan Huegli and sophomore Darci Miller have each recorded two assists.
Senior Kat Donovan has made 43 saves en route to five shutouts and six wins in her 12 starts in goal for the Jacks.
This week, Donovan was named The Summit League's Defensive Women's Soccer Player of the Week for her performances this past weekend.
Head coach Lang Wedemeyer leads the Jackrabbits in his twelfth season. Wedemeyer compiled a 100-82-24 record in his first 11 seasons.
THIS WEEK'S COMPETITION
Western Illinois - The Jacks face the Leathernecks for the seventh time in school history and hold a 4-1-1 series advantage.
Being as the teams are into the conference portion of the schedule, it is likely that there will be common opponents. However, the common opponents from these two teams come from the non-conference portion of the schedule.
Both WIU and SDSU recorded 1-0 victories over Drake and Green Bay. SDSU visited Drake and hosted Green Bay in the wins, while the Leathernecks picked up both wins on the road.
Last season, the Jackrabbits tied WIU 1-1 (2ot) in Brookings, S.D.
SDSU scored its only goal five minutes into the game, as Braffet scored off of a cross to give the Jacks the lead.
Western Illinois responded midway through the first half to tie the game 1-1.
This score held to halftime and was the final score.
Both goalkeepers made six saves in the tie.
Braffet led the offensive attack for the Jacks with six shots, two shots on goal and the lone SDSU goal. Courtney Higgins recorded one shot and one shot on goal, while Ferguson came off the bench and took two shots.
Last weekend, WIU dropped its conference opener to South Dakota 2-1 in Vermillion, S.D., before falling to UMKC 2-1 in Kansas City, Mo.
The losses made the Leathernecks 0-2-0 in The Summit League and 6-5-0 overall.
WIU is currently ninth place in The Summit League.
IUPUI - SDSU faces IUPUI for the eighth time in school history and lead the all-time series 5-2-0.
Because the school is a bit further east than the Jacks typically travel, there are no common opponents this season.
Friday may be telling for Sunday's game, however, as IUPUI made an inverted trip to WIU last weekend. IUPUI lost to UMKC 2-1 (ot), before tying South Dakota 2-2 (2ot).
The common opponents between IUPUI and WIU may provide some information as the Jacks head into Sunday.
Last season, SDSU used two first-half goals to top the Jaguars 2-0 in Brookings, S.D.
SDSU scored its first goal in the 32nd minute on a goal from Ferguson (cross from Braffet). The Jacks added another goal eight minutes later and made the lead hold.
SDSU's goalkeeper made two saves in the shutout victory.
Braffet led the offensive attack with three shots, one shot on goal and one assist. Nyblom took two shots, one of which was on goal. Ferguson took one shot and made it count.
Last weekend's loss and tie made IUPUI 0-1-1 in The Summit League and 1-7-4 overall.
IUPUI is currently seventh place in The Summit League.
LAST WEEK'S COMPETITION
Southern Utah - The South Dakota
State women's soccer team used two second-half goals to beat Southern
Utah, 2-0, and complete the weekend sweep of conference opponents.
SDSU pressured the entire first half, but was unable to find the back of the net.
The Jackrabbits outshot the Thunderbirds 15-1 in the first half, including a 6-1 shots on goal advantage. SDSU took five corner kicks to SUU's one. Part of the advantage may have been due to the 16 mph that was at the back of SDSU.
Early in the second half, senior Kelsey Ferguson took it upon herself to change that and change the score. Ferguson collected the ball at the top of the box, dribbed and hit a turn around shot to put the Jacks on top, 1-0.
That score would hold for 20 minutes, before junior Christa Nyblom added to the lead. Nyblom received a cross from senior Danielle Neuhalfen in front of the goal and punched the ball past the goalkeeper for a 2-0 SDSU lead.
"The wind allowed us to pin them a little bit in the first half," head coach Lang Wedemeyer said. "We created a lot of chances, but lost our composure near the end of the first half. In the second half, we regained our composure and played a little bit differently. It was a couple of people stepping up. Ferguson, and Neuhalfen and Nyblom combining to get that second goal; it is an individual effort sometimes that makes the difference."
Southern Utah put some pressure on senior goalkeeper Kat Donovan, but was unable to narrow the margin.
The Jackrabbits outshot the Thunderbirds 22-4. All four SUU shots were on goal, but were saved by Donovan. The Jacks took seven corner kicks to SUU's one.
Senior Kayla Braffet led the attack with six shots and three shots on goal. Nyblom had four shots and two shots on goal, one of which found the net.
"I am happy that we created a lot of attack, but I am not happy that we did not finish more," said Wedemeyer. "Again, that has been our Achilles Heel this year, but we are doing what we need to do to win games"
Donovan made four saves for the Jacks en route to her fourth shutout.
"You cannot underestimate the importance of starting off on a positive foot [in conference play]," Wedemeyer said. "To win both games at home is important. We talked a lot about home field advantage. We are pleased to get two wins; two shutouts."
The Jacks improve to 6-5-1 and 2-0-0 in conference play.
Southern Utah falls to 2-7-2 and 0-3-0 in conference play.
Oral Roberts - The South Dakota State women's soccer team flew by the Golden Eagles, 2-0, on a cold night at Fishback Soccer Park...
The Jackrabbits scored one goal midway through both halves and played solid defense all night to secure the win.
In the 34th minute, senior Kayla Braffet punched in the first goal. Braffet received the cross after a give-and-go by Danielle Neuhalfen and Darci Miller. Both were credited with an assist.
The game was nearly tied, as an ORU forward broke away and had a one-on-one with senior goalkeeper Kat Donovan. But Donovan was up to the challenge and made her only save on the night.
The score at halftime was 1-0.
SDSU and Oral Roberts were tied with three shots each, but all three SDSU shots were on goal, while only one ORU shot was on goal.
It did not take long for the Jackrabbits to add the insurance goal, as Cori Bonte found the back of the net 13 minutes into the second half. This time Braffet was there on the assist, collecting a loose ball and playing it to the top of the box for Bonte.
For Braffet, the night's goal is her fourth of the season and 18th of her career, tying her for fifth-place on the SDSU all-time goal-scoring leaderboard. The assist, her third of the season and 16th of her career, ties her for second-place on the SDSU all-time assist-scoring leaderboard. The combination of the two gives her 11 points this season and 52 points on her career, which puts her in fifth-place on the SDSU career scoring leaderboard.
"We have continued to create a lot of good attacking options," head coach Lang Wedemeyer said. "It was nice that we finished a couple. We have to continue to be more dangerous."
ORU tried to pressure the Jacks, but there was no kink in the defensive armor of SDSU.
"We did a pretty good job [on defense]," said Wedemeyer. "Stéphanie Bérubé was out and Caylee Costello stepped in and had a great game. There were moments when we were a little bit unorganized and a little bit lucky, but we have been on the reverse side of that so much this season. It was nice to have that flip-flop."
The game ended 2-0 in favor of SDSU.
The Jacks outshot the Golden Eagles 9-4 thanks to a 6-1 advantage in the second half. Five of the nine SDSU shots were on goal, while ORU only put one shot on goal. SDSU led in corner kicks 2-1.
"It's so tight," said Wedemeyer. "There is only four teams that make it to the conference tournament. Every game matters. We cannot take anybody for granted. Oral Roberts is a good team and they played good soccer. We feel very gratified with the win tonight."
NEXT UP - The Jacks return home to Fishback Soccer Park for another weekend of conference play against Oakland and IPFW. Game times are set for 6 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
Oakland was picked as the preseason favorite to win The Summit League and is currently in fourth place in the league standings. Last season, SDSU lost to the Golden Grizzlies in Rochester, Mich., 2-1. Oakland leads the all-time series against the Jacks, 3-2-0.
Last season, SDSU topped IPFW 1-0 (ot) in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Jacks lead the all-time series against the Mastadons, 4-1-0.
THE SUMMIT LEAGUE - In addition to SDSU's games, this weekend offers a complete schedule of conference games.
On Friday, South Dakota visits Oakland in Rochester, Mich., at 7 p.m.
UMKC visits Fort Wayne, Ind., to face IPFW at 7 p.m., also.
North Dakota State and IUPUI close out Friday's schedule at 7 p.m. in Indianapolis, Ind.
On Sunday, NDSU visits WIU at Noon.
UMKC visits Oakland at 1 p.m.
South Dakota visits IPFW at 1 p.m., as well.
Players Mentioned
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