Hockey team wins first game in over two years; hosts SDSU tonight

The University of South Dakota club hockey team will host their annual Dakota Days homecoming hockey game against the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State University tonight at 7 p.m. in Yankton at the 4-H grounds.

The Coyotes are coming off their first win in over two years, a 2-0 win against Creighton University on Sept. 30.

The last Coyote victory was in Jan. 2009 against St. Olaf where the Coyotes won 5-3.

Leading the Coyotes was freshman Sydney Kroll who scored the first goal of the game.

Sophomore Stephen Bollinger scored the second from an assist by freshman Josh Rogers.

Currently the team is undefeated on the season with a record of 1-0.

Last year the Coyotes took on the Jackrabbits twice and ended up losing both match-ups 18-2 and 10-1.

Rogers said the team will have to be ready for a tough game against SDSU.

“We have to prepare for a long physical game. We have to stick with our game plan,” Rogers said.  “We cannot let the emotions of the game get the best of us and just play D-Days.”

Senior Luke Sendelbach said the team has been looking forward to the game against state all year.

“We have been preparing for this game since the first time we skated in early September,” Sendelbach said. “We have always had a desire to beat state, but especially in front of the home intense.”

Freshman John Burchill said the team has been practicing together off the ice in the Wellness Center.

“We have been playing ball hockey together in the Wellness Center this week in order to prepare for SDSU,” Burchill said. “Its going to be a tough game but I know it is going to be a lot of fun as out.”

There also is a party bus for students over the age of 21 for $13 dollars, which includes both the bus and ticket fee.