Crucial road games ahead for Coyote soccer
The USD women’s soccer team currently sits in a four-way tie in points for fourth place in the Summit League.
The Coyotes (4-10, 1-2 Summit League) travel to play South Dakota State University on Friday and to the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Sunday.
Winning these games on the road could be crucial to clinch a spot in the Summit League Tournament, which consists of the top four teams in the conference, with the winner of the tournament making the NCAA tournament.
South Dakota State currently sits third in the conference after winning its first two conference games to earn six points. The Jackrabbits have only scored two goals in conference play, winning each game 1-0. Omaha sits in the four-way tie with USD at three points with a 1-3 record.
To win the games, the Coyotes must find a way to put goals in the back of the net. They have been struggling to put away their scoring chances all year long, and it has continued in conference play, being held scoreless in two consecutive losses.
All four goals scored in conference play came in USD’s lone conference victory over Denver. Another factor that has plagued the Coyotes is turnovers in the midfield that allow their opponents to get more scoring chances. If they can turn this around, they can create more chances for themselves to score.
Last Sunday, USD traveled to play North Dakota State, who sits atop the Summit League, and fell to the Bison 1-0 in overtime.
Britney Monteon scored the only goal of the game in the 105th minute to end the game on the golden goal rule.
The golden goal rule means the first team to score wins when the game is overtime.
USD had one of its better performances against NDSU, leading the game in shots 17 to 14, but again failed to find the back of the net on their scoring chances.
Brenna Bills, Courtney Baker and Brittney Baker were the only players to record shots on goal with Bills having one and each of the Bakers adding two. Sydney Hardin was able to make four saves in the game before allowing the game winner on NDSU’s only shot of overtime.
