Jacks win 10th straight Friday night

Friday, October 18

Brookings, S.D.

6 p.m.

South Dakota State University

12-3-0, 4-0-0

Western Illinois

6-8-1, 2-3-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Western Illinois	0	0	0
South Dakota State	0	1	1

Photo by: Mark Smither

10/18/2019 8:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

South Dakota State women's soccer picked up its 10th consecutive victory Friday evening, topping Western Illinois 1-0 at Fishback Soccer Park.

The Jackrabbits (12-3, 4-0 Summit League) found the net early in the second half and held off a hard-charging Leatherneck team the rest of the way, continuing the 10-game shutout streak while Maggie Smither became the school's all-time leader in saves.

Smither finished the game with six total saves, facing 11 WIU shots while the Jackrabbits fired 16 on the other end, putting seven on goal.

"We needed her best tonight," head coach Brock Thompson said of Smither's performance. "She'll be the first to tell you there are some shutouts where she doesn't have to do too much because of how well her teammates play in front of her, but she had to make some saves tonight and play a very complete game in all aspects of goalkeeping. This is a good game for her to break that record on because of that effort. Everything she earns is just a testament to the work she puts into her craft."

Leah Manuleleua's 51st minute goal proved to be enough in the victory, as the Manteca, California native led the team with four shots (two on goal). Carina McLennan notched an assist in the win, while she, Darien Polestra and Maya Hansen each had two shots.

"First off, credit to Western Illinois," Thompson said. "I thought their plan to be disruptive and organize was really good. I thought in the first half it kind of played into their hand, and in the second half I thought we played on our front foot a little bit. There were moments throughout the game, though, where a play here or there could've changed the trajectory of the game, and I thought our players were able to handle the magnitude of the moment with really great composure. I'm proud of that."

After a back and forth opening 10 minutes of action, SDSU picked up the pace and fired five shots (three on goal) over the next 15 minutes, but were unable to break through. Play evened the rest of the half, though State carried a 9-4 advantage in shots into the locker room.

Scoreless at the break, SDSU broke the stalemate at 50:53 when McLennan's corner kick was served up for Manuleleua, who finished with a header.

WIU pushed for an equalizer the rest of the way, putting shots on goal in the 60th and 61st minutes, but SDSU's defense held firm until the final whistle.

Game Notes

South Dakota State is 13-1-1 all-time against Western Illinois and is unbeaten in the last 13 matchups.
Maggie Smither, already the school's and Summit League's all-time leader in shutouts, now has 30 clean sheets for her career.
Leah Manuleleua has nine goals on the season, one shy of the Summit League lead.
SDSU's 10-game winning streak is tied for the longest mark for the Jackrabbits, matching a total from 2008.
Maggie Smither is the new career saves record holder with 269 stops in her career, passing Kat Donovan's record of 267.
Maggie Smither's 11 shutouts is tied for first in the Jackrabbits' single-season record books. Nicole Inskeep and Kat Donovan share the record with 11.

Up Next
South Dakota State wraps up the weekend homestand Sunday against Purdue Fort Wayne. Kickoff is set for noon from Fishback Soccer Park, where the Jackrabbits will celebrate Senior Day before the game, honoring Shayna Stubbs, Leah Manuleleua, Darien Poelstra, Maggie Smither and Carina McLennan.

-GoJacks.com-