WALTER GOAL LIFTS JACKS TO SUMMIT LEAGUE TITLE MATCH

Thursday, November 6

Tulsa, Okla.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

12-2-6, 4-1-3

Denver

9-5-4, 6-1-1

South Dakota St.

Denver

Lauren Walter is swarmed by her teammates as they celebrate a win

Photo by: The Summit League

11/6/2025 4:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

TULSA, Okla. — South Dakota State's Lauren Walter recorded a 72nd minute goal, serving as the lone score of the match, as the Jackrabbits bested Denver 1-0 in The Summit League Women's Soccer Championship semifinals on Thursday at Case Soccer Complex.

The chances were limited for both sides in the early going. The third-seeded Jackrabbits and second-seeded Pioneers had one shot on goal apiece in the opening 45 minutes of action. SDSU goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart made her lone save of the first half in the 19th minute. Denver keeper Alina Santos made a save on a solid attempt by the Jackrabbits' Emma Brezenski in the 28th minute.

Play opened up in the second half. The Pios registered three shots in the first five minutes before SDSU's Mia Bosch Shot tallied one in the 52nd minute. Benhart corralled a pair of saves for the Jacks in a three-minute span as the clock dipped under 20 minutes remaining.

SDSU broke the game open in the 72nd minute.

A Hailee Christensen pass towards the box to Bosch was well covered by the Denver back row. A Pioneer defender stepped in and tried to clear the ball away, but Walter stepped in the way of the pass. She gathered her momentum and from approximately 22 yards out hit a strike to the top-right corner of the net, giving the Jackrabbits the 1-0 lead.

SDSU kept the pressure up and produced three more shots over the next six minutes of competition. The Pioneers had multiple opportunities, with Hannah Tate and Samantha Dreilling continuing to attack with shots in the 81st and 83rd minutes, respectively. Denver was called for three offside calls in the waning moments of the match as the clock struck zero on the scoreboard.

The victory propelled the Jackrabbits to a third consecutive Summit League tournament championship appearance.

NOTES

South Dakota State improved to 12-2-6 overall on the season. Denver, which beat South Dakota State 1-0 during the regular season, saw its season end with a 9-5-4 record.
SDSU defeated Denver for the second straight season in the conference tournament semifinals. The No. 3 seed Jackrabbits topped the No. 2 seed Pioneers, 2-1, in Fargo in the 2024 tournament semifinals.
The Jackrabbits now hold a 3-0-3 all-time postseason record against the Pioneers. SDSU's three wins have come in 2025, 2024 and 2021. SDSU won Summit League titles over Denver via penalty kicks in 2019, 2016 and 2014. The meeting Thursday will be the last in The Summit League tournament between the two foes as Denver moves to the West Coast Conference next season.
Lauren Walter scored her fifth goal of the season for the Jackrabbits. The graduate transfer has scored three of her goals in the past four matches.
Benhart earned her eighth clean sheet of the season in goal for SDSU. Her three saves on the day improved her save percentage this year to 0.847 and her goals against average to 0.73.
MaKynlie Cade produced a team-high three shots for South Dakota State. She was followed by Brezenski and Bosch who each recorded two.
SDSU's back line of Lauren Eckerle, Taylor Thomas and Renny Buchanan played the entire 90 minutes. Christensen and Ellie Gusman each competed for over 80 minutes.
SDSU is now 7-0-3 all-time in the conference tournament as the No. 3 seed. The Jackrabbits advance to a title game which SDSU is 5-1-3 all-time in nine previous appearances. SDSU has earned the conference tournament crown eight times.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State moves on to The Summit League Women's Soccer Championship match. The Jackrabbits will next play at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Oral Roberts' Case Soccer Complex. SDSU awaits the winner of Thursday evening's match between the top-seeded Golden Eagles and No. 5 Kansas City.

-GoJacks.com-