OMAHA, Neb.—South Dakota senior
Brenna Bills and junior
Corey Strang found the back of the net in the Coyotes' 2-0 victory against Omaha at Caniglia Field on Sunday afternoon.
"This was a great win for us," said head coach
Mandy Green. "I was really happy to see how we came out and played hard, smart, and together following the loss on Friday. Our starters were composed and connected well even though they put a lot of pressure on us. Our bench were difference makers today. They all came in and did a great job changing the energy and created a lot of dangerous opportunities for us. Our back line was solid.
"It really was a great performance by all."
South Dakota improves to 5-11-0 (2-3-0 Summit League) as Omaha falls to 5-9-2 (2-4-0 Summit League). The win moves the Coyotes into fifth in the league standings. South Dakota's three Summit League losses came against the three programs at the top of the league in North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and Oral Roberts.
Strang used the back of her heel to drop the ball from the top of the box to Bills in the 28th minute. Bills fired off a shot to the left corner of the net. Bills put the Coyotes on the board with her third goal of the season. Strang is now tied for sixth in program history with nine career assists.
Strang found herself in a one-on-one opportunity with a Maverick defender in the 80th minute. Strang cut around the defender and finished the ball off to the left corner for her fourth goal of the season.
With a two-goal lead, the Coyotes ran out the clock in the final ten minutes of the match for the Coyotes' first win against the Mavericks in program history. The two teams ended in a nil-nil tie a year ago in Vermillion, S.D.
South Dakota led 11-7 in shots, with six shots-on-goal to Omaha's three. Coyote sophomore goalkeeper
Sydney Hardin scooped up three saves on each of the Mavericks' on-target shots.
The Coyote back line pushed forward throughout the match to force eight off-sides calls on the Mavericks. When the Mavericks did get a run going in the 70th minute, sophomore defender
Katelyn Floysand raced from behind to slide tackle the ball away from Omaha's open look on net.
South Dakota returns to the USD Soccer Complex for the final two home games of the season next weekend. The Coyotes face off against IUPUI Friday at 4 p.m. and Western Illinois Sunday at noon.
