JACKS EARN 2-1 WIN IN NON-CONFERENCE FINALE

Thursday, September 19

Brookings, S.D.

6 p.m.

South Dakota State University

7-2-1, 0-0-0

USC Upstate

3-3-2, 0-0-0

USC Upstate

South Dakota St.

Avery LeBlanc

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

9/19/2024 9:46:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

BROOKINGS, S.D. — Hailee Christensen scored a first-half goal, then Avery LeBlanc added another goal in the second, as the South Dakota State women's soccer team claimed a 2-1 victory over USC Upstate on Thursday at Fishback Soccer Park.

The Jackrabbits controlled possession for a majority of the first half and got into the lead early. A throw-in from Katherine Jones found Hailee Christensen on the right side of the field and outside the box. The freshman forward hit a right-footed shot over the Upstate keeper's head and the ball sailed into the net to give SDSU a 1-0 advantage in the 15th minute.

SDSU held on to the one-goal difference for the remainder of the opening half. The Jacks had a 7-1 edge in shots with SDSU goalkeeper Emma Knack recording a save.

The Spartans found an equalizer just 10 minutes into the second half. The Jackrabbits had possession on the Upstate side of the field, but an errant pass ended up going the other way as the Spartans' Margret Bjarnadottir countered. She passed it to reigning Big South Offensive Player of the Year Dara Russo who finished off the transition with her fifth goal of the season. That tied the score at 1-1 in the 55th minute.

South Dakota State responded soon after.

Katherine Jones recorded the match's next three shots as the Jackrabbits pursued the game-winning goal. They found it in the 65th minute.

A solid display of passing saw Kaycee Manding chip the ball into the left side of the box to Katelyn Beulke. The sophomore forward crossed a pass in to Avery LeBlanc whose right foot got just enough on the ball to have it bound into the net and give the Jacks a 2-1 lead.

The Spartans continued to pressure the Jackrabbit defense. Upstate produced six shots over the next 20 minutes with four on goal. Goalkeeper Stephanie Leckwold, who entered the match at the halftime break, made four saves to keep the Spartans off the board.

A red card handed out to a Spartan, along with two offside calls on Upstate, served as the final plays of the 90-minute contest. SDSU completed its non-conference slate with a 7-2-1 record behind the victory. The Spartans dropped to 3-3-2 overall.

NOTES

South Dakota State outshot Upstate 14-7 on the night, though the Spartans had a 7-4 edge in shots on goal. The Jackrabbits have outshot their foes in all 10 matches this season.
Jones had a team-high four shots for the Jacks. She was followed by Christensen and Mia Bosch who had three apiece.
LeBlanc has recorded two game-winning goals this season and is now tied for the team lead with four goals. That mark is a career high. Christensen registered her second goal of her first collegiate campaign.
Katelyn Beulke's assist was her second of the year. She now has a team-high 10 points.
Manding and Hayley Lindaman played the full 90 minutes for the Jackrabbits. Maleah Evans competed for an SDSU-high 44 among the Jackrabbit reserves.
The victory signified the 100th for Brock Thompson as head coach of the South Dakota State program.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State will have a 10-day break before opening Summit League action. The Jackrabbits will return to the pitch on Sunday, Sept. 29, when they make the trip to Omaha to take on the Mavericks.

-GoJacks.com-