The South Dakota State University Jackrabbits hoisted the 2023 Summit League title after they defeated the University of Omaha Mavericks in a close 1-0 match.
It is their third Summit League soccer title in the last five years (2019, 2021 and 2023) and seventh overall (2008, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2023).
The Nov. 5 match saw 476 fans in attendance, second most at the Fishback Soccer Complex in program history.
In the first half of the match, the Jackrabbits faced the blunt end of a wind gust that reached 30 mph.
Affected by the weather conditions, South Dakota State was limited in the first 45 minutes, with just one shot from Laney Murdzek, a junior midfielder from Wisconsin. Unfortunately for the Jacks, Murdzek’s shot, in the fifth minute was saved by goalie Emma Knosmo for the Mavericks.
South Dakota State’s goalkeeper Jocelyn Tanner clutched up for the Rabbits, saving shots on goal in the first half.
Though losing the match, Omaha outshot South Dakota State 6-5.
Going into the back 45 minutes, something had to change. In the first 20 minutes of the championship match, South Dakota State had a shot and four corner kicks.
The dominant ‘Jack Attack’ proved to be effective when in the 67th minute when Ellie Gusman took charge and scored the only goal of the game.
After goalkeeper Knosmo tried to send a goal kick out of the goal. With the powerful wind gust and a header from a Mav, Gusman, a freshman from Aiea, Hawaii took the ball to the top of the box before sending a powerful strike from her right foot which sailed into the net.
Now ahead in the Summit League Championship, the Jackrabbits went into a defensive formation for the rest of the match. With solid passes along with hogging possession, South Dakota State prevented Omaha from getting another shot on goal.
Winning the match and the Summit League title.
NCAA 2023 Women’s College Cup
After earning a spot in the 2023 Division 1 Women’s Soccer Championship, it was announced on Monday that the South Dakota State Jackrabbits will take on the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday at the Huskers’ Barbara Hibner Stadium. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
Throughout the years, South Dakota State has become the victor of just one match in the tournament, back in 2008 when they beat the University of Colorado 1-0. State’s other six matches in the tournament have been five losses and one tie.
The Cornhuskers are a fifth seed in the 2023 Women’s College Cup while the Jacks aren’t seeded.
Nebraska is 14-3-3 overall this season, losing their last match in the Big Ten Semifinals 3-1 against Wisconsin. Though not the conference champion, the Cornhuskers managed to win the Big Ten regular season title.
Eleanor Dale has been deadly for UNL this season, racking up 54 points, 25 goals, 120 shots and 61 shots on goal. Dale also shoots 50.8% on goal.
Florence Belzile leads the team by a long margin in the assists category. The sophomore from Canada has recorded 16 assists in 20 games, over double the amount Jordan Zade and Abbey Scharz have, who are currently tied for second in assists.
Goalkeeper Samantha Hauk has 73 saves (75.3% save percentage) to date while allowing 24 goals on the season.
