VERMILLION, S.D.—Three South Dakota players combined for four goals in the Coyotes' 4-1 win over Denver at the USD Soccer Complex on Sunday.
 
The win ended the Coyotes' two-game skid and improved their season record to 4-9-0 (1-1-0 Summit League), while Denver fell to 0-9-1 (0-1-0 Summit League) in its league opener.
 
A corner kick by senior Taylor Nivala was punched up by Denver goalkeeper Cassidy Rey. Sophomore Courtney Baker found the deflection and knocked it into the back of the net to put the Coyotes on the board in the fifth minute.
 
Denver responded in the 19th minute when a foul by the Coyote defense resulted in a Pioneer free kick less than five yards from the box. Denver's Stella Norman launched the ball over both the defensive wall and sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Hardin's hands.
 
The two teams entered halftime tied up 1-1, with the Coyote defense limiting the Pioneers to only two other shots in the half.
 
Junior Corey Strang scored the game-winner in the 61st minute. Sophomore Brittney Baker threw the ball into Strang, who turned and scored from 30 yards out.
 
Strang repeated six minutes later as freshman Sammie Villwock dribbled towards the right post and dropped it back. A one-touch low strike to the left corner of the goal put the Coyotes up by two.
 
Villwock would send the ball across the field again in the 86th minute. A Denver defender headed the cross up and further across the field towards senior Brenna Bills. Bills trapped the deflection and struck the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
 
The Coyotes outshot the Pioneers 12-8 and led shots-on-goal 7-6. Hardin grabbed four saves and the Coyote defense deflected one more to limit the Pioneers to one goal.
 
South Dakota travels to North Dakota State next Sunday for a 3 p.m. kickoff in Fargo, N.D.