Soccer sits on cusp of first program playoff

The USD women’s soccer team defeated Western Illinois 4-2 this past Sunday to complete a home weekend sweep that included a 2-1 victory against IUPUI on Friday.

The weekend sweep leaves USD one win away from clinching a spot in the Summit League Tournament with one game to go Sunday at Fort Wayne.

“Hopefully we can get refocused,” said Mandy Green, head coach for the team. “With an emotional win like we had on Friday, and I think the same amount of emotion (Sunday), we came out kind of flat, so hopefully we can get re-energized this week and come out and play strong.”

Against Western Illinois, the Coyotes fell down 2-0 at the half with the Leathernecks getting goals from Gina Scaffidi and Kayla Kirkwood while outshooting the Coyotes 5-2 in the half.

“At halftime we were down, we didn’t say anything, we just knew what we had to do,” junior forward Corey Strang said.

The Coyotes came out in the second half and scored within 10 minutes when Strang tapped in a shot from a Taylor Nivala corner kick.

The biggest part of the game came in a four minute span after the 77th minute.

USD scored three goals from Strang, Kasha Meyer and Sammie Villwock. The first came on a penalty kick from Strang, who earned a penalty after WIU goalie, Victoria Kappel, tripped Strang as she was moving towards the goal.

“Honestly, I had one earlier this season that I missed and that was in my head, but the whole team had trust in me because they let me take it. They forced me to take it actually,” Strang said. “I was extremely nervous taking it.”

Just over a minute later, the Coyotes earned a corner kick, and took the lead after Katlin Ptacek’s shot rebound off of a defender to Meyer, who put a shot in the bottom left corner of the net.

“That was my second one of my whole career, so I was obviously ecstatic,” Meyer said. “I was ready to keep going, we only had one, so we had to stay in it.”

The Coyotes added to the lead just two minutes later. Sammie Villwock tapped in a shot from a Katelyn Floysand free kick from 40 yards out on the right side.

“Heart attack, I had a heart attack pretty much, but obviously so exciting and I am very happy for the girls that they were able to do this for us,” Green said.

The Coyotes shut down WIU to close out the game for a win.

The win concluded an exciting senior day for USD, closed out the Coyotes’ time at the USD Soccer Complex before they move to the new field next year, and puts the Coyotes in great position to make the Summit League Tournament.

“It’s awesome, I think this is the first time we have won on senior day,” Meyer said. “It’s great to do it and I absolutely love my team and I’m glad we could do it for each other.”

Green said her team united and came together when it mattered most.

“The fact that we came from behind and scored the way we did, it was an exciting day all around,” Green said. “For us to turn the energy around and the momentum like we did and break through the way we did and put us in a position we have never been before is awesome.”

On Friday, USD came back from a one-goal deficit against IUPUI.

Down 1-0 in the second half, Strang and Meyer each scored on headers to give the Coyotes the victory. With a potential playoff birth on the horizon, Meyer believes that there is still work to be done, even though they sit in a good place.

“We still have to go out next weekend and beat Fort Wayne, but we definitely put ourselves in a great position and I am excited to see what will happen,” Meyer said.

A win in Fort Wayne will clinch a spot for the Coyotes in the tournament, as will a Denver loss to Omaha Friday, or loss to Oral Roberts on Sunday.

Strang is confident in her team.

“Just win,” Strang said. “We are on a good streak right now, I think three game winning streak, so we got this.”