Zach Anderson

The Jackrabbits rallied from a 1-0 deficit to claim the 2-1 victory over Drake at Fishback Soccer Park on Sept. 11. Christa Nyblom put in the game-winning goal to push the Jacks record to 2-3-1 on the season, while pushing Drake’s record to 1-3-2.

“l thought that we played our best game so far against a talented Drake side,” SDSU coach Lang Wedemeyer said. “We moved the ball very well and were solid all over the field. Both goals were spectacular, and it was a great way to come back being down 0-1.”

Kaitlin Justice, who hit the game-winning goal against Green Bay, added her second goal of the season to tie the game at one goal apiece and start the Jackrabbit rally.

“I think that it was definitely a group effort,” Wedemeyer said. “Although we certainly want to avoid giving up early goals, it didn’t deter our momentum in the least. The extra effort by Kayla Braffet and Emily Quigley to keep the ball alive for Kaitlin Justice to finish the first goal was tremendous.”

Braffet and Quigley were also involved in assisting on Nyblom’s game winner.

This time with a 2-1 lead, the Jackrabbits looked much more composed as they kept the ball away from Drake to run out the clock.

“After the UWGB game, we watched the last 15 minutes of film and discussed ways to make winning the game easier,” Wedemeyer said. “I think the team responded very well.”

Up next for the Jacks is the Kansas Tournament in which they will play two games. The first game is Sept. 18 against Missouri State and Sept. 20 against No. 13 Kansas.

The matches will pit SDSU against two opponents they have never faced before.

“We have never played them, but they are always a solid team in the Missouri Valley,” Wedemeyer said of Missouri State. “I think they will be a very organized team that likes to play good soccer.”

As for preparing to play the Jayhawks: “When you play two games a weekend, it’s very difficult to put any focus on the second game because you don’t want to lose sight of performing on Friday,” Wedemeyer said. “So, we’ll put our energy into preparing for Missouri State and then prepare for Kansas on Saturday. Having said that, our team defense and counter attack will be what we work on the most in preparation for that game.”

Some Kansas players that stand out are Monica Dolinsky and their goalkeeper Julie Hanley.

“Monica Dolinsky has received some weekly awards so far, and their goalkeeper Julie Hanley is very talented,” he said. “This will be one of the best teams that we play all year.”

Kansas is coming off an 0-1-1 weekend during which they lost to Denver 2-1 and tied Colorado College 0-0. The Jayhawks started off the season with five straight wins.

Wedemeyer said that it is hard to predict how the Jacks will do facing two new opponents.

“But I do know the girls will play with everything they have in both games and represent SDSU well.”

#1.881500:1114543777.jpg:ers-soc5.jpg:Jacks Christa Nyblom dribbles the ball past Drake forward Melissa Lewis at Fishback Soccer Park on Sept. 11.:Ethan Swanson