JACKRABBITS BEGIN 2026 CAMPAIGN AT FISHBACK SOCCER PARK

Thursday, August 13

Brookings, S.D.

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Manitoba

Photo by: Riley Edds

8/12/2026 6:36:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: Andrew Pedersen

Matches 1 & 2: South Dakota State vs. Manitoba / MSU Moorhead
Dates	Thursday, Aug. 13, 7 PM CT / Sunday, Aug. 16, 1 PM CT
Location	Brookings, South Dakota (Fishback Soccer Park)
Stream	Summit League Network (Midco Sports Plus)
Live Stats	SDSU Statbroadcast
South Dakota State	Home Page / Season Prospectus
Opponents	Manitoba / MSU Moorhead

South Dakota State returns to the pitch in 2026 to continue a tremendous stretch as a part of the program's history. The Jackrabbits enter their 27th season of competition on Thursday, Aug. 13, when they host Manitoba at 7 p.m.. They play six of their first seven matches of the year at home with games at Fishback Soccer Park against MSU Moorhead (Aug. 16 - 1 p.m.), Washington State (Aug. 20), Western Illinois (Aug. 27), Colorado College (Sept. 3) and Idaho (Sept. 6).

SDSU enters the season with optimism after another run to a Summit League tournament championship. The Jacks produced three clean sheets -- featuring a 1-0 win over Omaha, 1-0 victory against Denver and 2-0 triumph versus host Oral Roberts -- to claim the 2025 Summit League Tournament title. The tournament championship was the program's third straight matching a program-best stretch when SDSU won The Summit League titles from 2014-16. The Jacks' 2025 season eventually came to an end at No. 5 seed and nationally-ranked Iowa in a 1-0 defeat on Nov. 14.

South Dakota State has claimed 16 overall conference titles. The Jacks have won six regular season conference championships, while they won their 10th tournament title in 2025. SDSU won the United Soccer Conference tournament title in 2006. The Jackrabbits have since won the Summit League Women's Soccer tournament championship in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The nine Summit League tournament trophies earned are the most by a conference member all-time, topping the eight that were won by former member Valparaiso.

SDSU is 8-0 in The Summit League Championship over the past three seasons, en route to earning back-to-back-back titles, while the Jackrabbits are 10-1 in four of the past five years. The 2025 run through the Summit League tournament featured all shutouts by SDSU for the first time ever for the Jackrabbits. The three-peat in conference titles was the first in the conference since SDSU accomplished the same feat from 2014-16. Oakland holds the record with four straight championships from 2000-03.

The Jackrabbits enter the 2026 season second in The Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll. Oral Roberts, the 2025 regular season champion, was picked to win this year's title with SDSU narrowly behind.

SDSU returns a plethora of talent. Mallorie Benhart was the 2025 Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year and returns for her second season in Yellow and Blue. Mia Bosch, Ellie Gusman and Jenna Maloy were All-Summit League Second Team selections last year. Benhart and Bosch are SDSU's Players to Watch announced by The Summit League prior to the season.

Emma Brezenski was an All-Newcomer choice, along with Maloy, last season. Katelyn Beulke, who was out all of 2025 due to injury, comes back to the lineup with 2024 All-Summit League honors on her resume. Emery Ruliffson joins the squad for her first year at SDSU. She was an All-Summit League Newcomer during the 2024 season at Kansas City, while Adrianne Agbayani received the same accolades for SDSU as a freshman during the same campaign.

SDSU brings more experience to this year's roster. Senior Taryn Hettich comes into the season as a two-year starter. Another senior in Sophia Emerson was a Division II All-American at Azusa Pacific last year. Other players that had double-digit appearances a season ago that bring valuable minutes to the squad in 2026 include MaKynlie Cade, Brianna Finnegan, Deizha Lyn Jacinto, Hannah Langstaff and Zoe Wittkop.

The Jackrabbits welcome nine total newcomers to the squad this season. Emerson and Ruliffson, along with Xeyana Salanoa, have previous college experience. Freshmen on the SDSU roster include Stella Braddock, Bianca Eide, Abbi Gibbs, Peyton Held, Dreya Kern and Emily Krings.

COVERAGE INFORMATION
All of South Dakota State's home matches this season, along with in-conference contests, will be streamed on The Summit League Network Powered by Midco Sports. All game day links are available on the Jackrabbit soccer team's schedule page at GoJacks.com. Fans can purchase the first four home matches of the season for just $20 by visiting JackrabbitTickets.com.

-GoJacks.com-