USD takes down Cyclones 1-0
For the first time since 2017, USD soccer hosted a Power Five conference team Sunday.
The Iowa State Cyclones came to Vermillion with a 3-4 record after beating Creighton 1-0. The Coyotes went into the game with a 4-1-2 record after beating Northern Iowa 1-0 last week.
The Coyotes shut out the Cyclones 1-0 in a game where both teams had another opponent: the wind.
“I tell the team that I hope the conditions aren’t going to be great day in and day out,” head coach Michael Thomas said. “We want to be the mentally stronger and bad conditions give you an opportunity to have an advantage.”
The Sunday win was the first time in school history the Coyotes won a matchup against Iowa State. They had previously gone 0-4 against the Cyclones. This win also led the Coyotes to beating their first power-five team since becoming a division-one athletics program in 2011-2012.
Even with the wind, the Cyclones out-shot the Coyotes 13-6. While the Cyclones out-shot USD, the Coyotes saved more shots with 8-1.
Emma Harkleroad and Caroline Lewis were in-goal for the Coyotes. Harkleroad had two saves while Lewis had six.
Harkleroad went down with 34 minutes left in the first half after a collision with Cyclone Anna Lindgren and an injury timeout was called. Harkleroad played the rest of the first half but was replaced by Lewis in the second half.
Even with Harkleroad hurt, the Coyotes scored with 20 minutes left in the first half. Alexis Mitchell headed in the cross from Jordan Centineo to score for the Coytoes.
Mitchell scored her second goal of the season and Centineo assisted for the first time this year.
“We always know that attacking wide opens up the middle,” Mitchell said. “Jordan (Centineo), I rely on her when she gets out wide and I know she can put in a good ball, so it’s all about timing and having to get that timing right.”
Within all the action, two seniors found themselves competing in an individual milestone game. Joana Zanin and Centineo both played the 60th game of their careers as Coyotes.
With this win, the Coyotes move on with a 5-1-2 record going into Summit League play. The Coyotes will be the first team in the Summit League to play newcomer St. Thomas Oct. 1 at the First Bank and Trust Soccer Complex in Vermillion.
