BROOKINGS, S.D. – It was nearly an upset Thursday night at Fishback Park as No. 4 South Dakota led No. 1 North Dakota State by one goal with three minutes to play in regulation. North Dakota State (13-5-1) would go on to both equalize and score the golden goal for a 4-3 double overtime victory.
 
South Dakota (8-12-0) concludes its first ever DI post-season run in the semifinals of the Summit League Tournament.
 
North Dakota State's Lauren Miller put the Bison on the board early, firing off a strong shot from the left side in the ninth minute.
 
South Dakota senior Taylor Nivala hit the equalizer in the 19th minute from 30-yards out. Nivala's long shot from the right flank curved left, sailing just under the cross bar. Nivala was set up with an assist by junior Corey Strang, who passed the ball out to Nivala from the middle of the field.
 
Then 68th minute, sophomore defender Katlin Ptacek came in clutch for the Coyotes as she blocked a shot that was headed for an open net.
 
A minute later on the Coyotes' counter attack, North Dakota State was called for a hand ball in the box. Strang lined up to take the penalty kick, nailing it into the back of the net. It was Strang's third successful penalty kick in as many games, putting the Coyotes up by one.
 
Action continued in the 73rd minute as North Dakota State's Amy Yang dribbled wide open on the left side of the field. Coyote sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Hardin came out to defend as Yang placed an easy shot to the far corner of the net.
 
South Dakota took the lead for a second time in the 87th minute. North Dakota State had three shots deflected by a Coyote defense when Strang carried the ball downfield on a counter attack. She tapped the ball left of her defender, firing off a left footer into the net.
 
In the 88th minute, North Dakota State's Miller equalized the game once again. Miller controlled a throw in on the left flank and carried it towards the goal. She took a shot off from inside the box and set it in to the far corner of the goal.
 
The first of the two overtime periods would remain scoreless, with the Coyotes taking the only five shots of the period.
 
Less than 30 seconds into the second overtime period, North Dakota State's Genna Joyce sent a pass out to teammate Britney Monteon on the right side. Monteon sent it the ball up and over Hardin for the golden goal in the 101st minute.
 
North Dakota State led South Dakota 20-18 in shots. The Coyotes placed 11 on-goal. Strang led the Coyote attack with four shots-on-goal, while Nivala and freshman Sammie Villwock added two apiece. Seniors Brenna Bills, Danielle Anderson, and Elena Tsakakis all had one shot-on-goal each.
 
North Dakota State goalkeeper Sierra Bonham grabbed eight saves for the Bison to keep the Coyotes out of the net. On the other end, Hardin pulled down six saves and Ptacek added one for the team.
 
North Dakota State advances to the Summit League Championship, where the Bison will face South Dakota State (10-5-3) at noon Saturday.