Aug. 17, 2012

Box Score

South Dakota-Gonzaga Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Freshman Danielle Anderson scored a goal in the final minutes, but it wasn't enough as the South Dakota women's soccer team fell to Gonzaga, 3-1, in the season opener for both teams Friday in Spokane, Wash. The Coyotes fell to 0-1 on the year while Gonzaga improved to 1-0.

Anderson (Elkhorn, Neb.) scored her first career goal in the 87th minute to get the Coyotes on the board and bring them within 3-1. However, Gonzaga scored twice in the first half to take a 2-0 lead and made the margin stand to earn the win in the first-ever meeting between the two schools in women's soccer.

"I think this was actually a good first game for us," South Dakota head coach Mandy Green said. "Gonzaga is a strong team that plays quick. Even though we lose and gave up three goals, we showed glimpses of some really good things that we can build off of. This game today showed our young group that we need to get tougher and think quicker. We learned a lot from today that we will use to get better for our next game."

Sophomore Brittlyn Dillow (Dixon, Ill.) led the Coyotes with two shots, including one on goal. Freshman Rebecca Sparkman (Eden Prairie, Minn.) had a shot as well. Sophomore Mackenzie Viktor (Fort Collins, Colo.) had six saves in net for the Coyotes.

South Dakota will look to earn a split on the opening road trip with a game at Idaho on Sunday. Game time is 3 p.m. Central time in Moscow, Idaho. It will be the third meeting between the two teams with Idaho leading the series 2-0, winning both games by 2-1 scores.