Mike Schaefer

Five hundred and seventy-two. It is not a record, just a number – a number the soccer team absolutely loathed.

The counter reached more than 572 minutes when Kelsey Worcester fired the shot heard round Fishback Soccer Park Oct. 13.

She broke the 0-0 deadlock against Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne with a goal in the 32nd minute of Friday’s match-up.

The goal marked the first for the Jacks since a game against Drake University Sept. 15.

“You would have thought we won the World Cup when we scored that goal,” said Coach Lang Wedemeyer.

He knew firsthand how rough the scoreless streak was. Last year, the Jacks had the same difficulty, enduring a seven game scoreless streak.

“This year, we were playing pretty good soccer, and we created more opportunities than last year. In one regard, we felt better with our play, but at the same time, it was almost more frustrating because we felt like we deserved to win, and we felt like we were creating lots of good chances to score,” Wedemeyer said.

Worcester’s goal broke the scoreless streak of five games, but the Jacks did not quit there. Taking Worcester’s lead, Kellyn Farrell scored early in the second half, and Worcester scored again late, burying IPFW in a 3-0 deficit.

The shutout marked the third of the season.

On Sunday afternoon, the Jacks faced the University of Minnesota.

Farrell helped SDSU overcome an early Gopher goal by tying the game in the 39th minute. The Jacks were unable to cash in on numerous second-half opportunities, and a late goal by the Gophers allowed them to escape town with a victory.

The loss dropped the Jacks to 4-9-2. The team looks to continue its newfound scoring attack in Orem, Utah, against conference foe Utah Valley State. This will be the last real tune up before the conference tournament in Washington D.C., Nov. 2-5.

The eight-team United Soccer Conference is divided into two regions, east and west. SDSU plays in the west region with North Dakota State, IPFW and Utah Valley State. The Jacks are 1-1 in conference games this season.

The east division consists of South Carolina State, Delaware State, Howard and Longwood. The Jacks have yet to face any of them this season. While the conference tournament winner does receive an automatic bid to the NCAA postseason, it could give the winner quite a bit of confidence heading into next season.

Heading into the final few games of the season, Wedemeyer is happy with his team’s accomplishments.

“We have improvements, tremendous improvements in our quality of play, it’s just a struggle to get the results we deserve.”

#1.884090:1070558988.JPG:Girls05.JPG:University of Minnesota’s Clare Grimwood (7) and South Dakota State’s Jessica Heine (15), Kelly Larson (14) and Natasha Swift (7) battle for the ball Sunday afternoon.:Erin Lester