JACKRABBITS CRUISE TO SEASON-OPENING VICTORY

Thursday, August 13

Brookings, S.D.

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Manitoba

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Manitoba (CAN)	0	0	0
South Dakota St.	5	1	6

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia Sports Media

8/13/2026 10:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State scored four goals in the opening 21 minutes of action en route to a 6-0 win over Manitoba on Thursday, Aug. 13, at Fishback Soccer Park. The six-goal difference was the program's largest margin of victory in a season opener.

SDSU got the scoring started in the 10th minute. A free kick started by Hannah Langstaff saw Mia Bosch send a deep pass ahead to a sprinting Jenna Maloy. The sophomore midfielder easily booted a shot past the charging keeper to put the Jackrabbits ahead, 1-0.

Graduate student, and fifth-year student-athlete, Lauren Eckerle found the back of the net just three minutes later. A clearance found its way to Eckerle on SDSU's back line roughly 35 yards out from goal. She struck a ball that tipped off the fingers of a leaping goalkeeper and eventually into the top corner to put SDSU on top, 2-0.

A series of passes from Ellie Gusman and Bosch set up Langstaff up for an opportunity in the 19th minute. The senior midfielder hit a strike from 25 yards out into the top corner of the goal to give the Jackrabbits a 3-0 edge. The goal was the first of her college career.

The 25th minute saw Gusman boot a pass deep into the box. Zoe Wittkop was on the receiving end and she tapped the ball back to the center of the pitch where she found Adrianne Agbayani. The junior forward hit a left-footed shot that ended in the net, giving SDSU a 4-0 advantage in the 25th minute.

Freshman Peyton Held drew a foul inside the box to have SDSU earn a penalty kick opportunity. Sophomore Deizha Lyn Jacinto came up to take the kick and she converted, putting the Jackrabbits up 5-0 in the 30th minute.

The score remained the same heading into halftime. The 48th minute saw Brianna Finnegan sprint past the Manitoba defense down the right side of the field. She got an opportunity, unevaded against the keeper, and was successful on a right-footed strike to give The Jackrabbits their final 6-0 tally.

Manitoba had two shots on goal in the match with the Bisons' best opportunity in the 71st minute. SDSU goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart made a diving save to her left to maintain her first clean sheet of the season.

South Dakota State improved to 1-0 in the home victory. The match served as an exhibition for Manitoba as the Bisons continue their preseason schedule Sunday at SMSU.

NOTES

South Dakota State's largest previous win in a season opener came in 2023. The Jackrabbits hosted Manitoba in that year's first game which SDSU defeated the Bisons, 4-0.
SDSU had six different goal scorers while four different players registered assists. Bosch, Gusman and Wittkop each recorded a pair of assists for the Jackrabbits.
The Jacks' 19 points fell just outside the top 10 all-time in a single match. Last season saw SDSU scored 20-plus points in two different matches.
SDSU outshot Manitoba by a 23-2 margin, including a 13-2 difference in shots on goal.
Sophia Emerson, making her SDSU debut, played a team-high 67 minutes for the Jackrabbits on their back line.
Several Jackrabbits made their collegiate debuts in Held, Abbi Gibbs, Dreya Kern, Bianca Eide, Stella Braddock and Emily Krings. Emery Ruliffson made her first appearance as a Jackrabbit. Selah Jackson and Xehlia Salanoa played in their first matches since 2024 with both sitting out last season due to injury.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State continues its season-opening home stand on Sunday. The Jackrabbits host MSU Moorhead at 1 p.m. at Fishback Soccer Park in Brookings.

-GoJacks.com-