USD Women’s soccer gets its first conference win

The University of South Dakota Women’s soccer team defeated Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne 1-0 in Vermillion Sunday.

Corey Strang scored the lone goal for the Coyotes, who had the run of play throughout the match.

USD tallied 14 shots in the match, 11 on goal. IPFW only managed two shots, one on goal.

The Coyotes started the match on the front foot, with Strang heading a shot on target in the fourth minute. IPFW’s Sam Pavlika was quick to catch the header from Strang.

Pavlika’s saves became a frequent sight in this match, as she saved nine shots.

The next USD chance came in the 40th minute, when Rebecca Sparkman was left alone 18 yards from the goal. Her low shot was saved by Pavlika.

USD kept up the pressure on IPFW’s goal throughout the second half. In the 70th minute, Shannon Keller nearly scored from over 30 yards out, but the thunderbolt unleashed from her right foot was saved by Pavlika.

USD finally took the lead in the 86th minute, when Strang latched onto a throw-in from Brittney Baker. The dipping, right-footed volley flew over Pavlika’s head into the top left corner of the Mastodons’ net.

With the victory, USD moves to 8-4-1 on the year, 1-0-1 in the Summit League. IPFW is now 2-9, 0-1 in the Summit League.

USD is in action again Friday, traveling to Tulsa, Okla., to play Oral Roberts.