VERMILLION, S.D. – The South Dakota Coyotes will travel to Colorado and Nebraska in their regular season finales. The Yotes will face off against Denver on Friday at 7 p.m. CT while taking on Omaha on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Yotes are vying for a spot in the conference tournament and with one win or tie in either on of the two games will clinch a spot in the tournament. The Yotes currently sit tied for third place with Omaha with 15 points while Kansas City has 12 points and Western Illinois has 9 points. 

 The Rundown
    Opponents: Denver & Omaha
    Dates: Friday at 7 p.m. CT | Sunday @ 1 p.m.
    Site: Denver, Colo. | Omaha, Neb.
    Stream: Denver | Omaha
    Live Stats: Denver | Omaha
    Game Notes: USD | Summit League
 
MOVING UP
Fifth year senior Alexis Mitchell's goal against UND moved her into a tie for seventh all-time in goals scored at USD. She currently has 20 and would need three more goals to be in the top five all-time in goals scored. Mitchell has also moved into a tie for sixth place all-time with 53 career points. She is two points shy of being in the top five. Mitchell also sits fourth in all-time assists with 13. Taylor Cotter sits third all-time with 17 assists and needs two assists to take sole possession of second place. Maddison Sullivan has continued to pile on the assists recording two vs. NDSU. She now has six on the season and has en- tered the top-10 all-time list with 11 career assists.

NATIONAL RANKINGS

The Yotes defense has been making a name for themselves on the nationally level ranking in the top 10 in several categories. USD ranks second in save percentage, 12th in goals against average and fourth in shutout percentage. The Yotes also tied for the most shutouts thus far in the Summit League with 10. Emma Harkleroad ranks third in save percentage in the nation. She leads the conference in GAA, saves and save per- centage while ranking second in sutouts on the season.

SECOND HAT TRICK OF SEASON

Jordan Centineo scored her first career hat-trick to help the Yotes in their win agaisnt NDSU 5-0.This is the second hat-trick for the Yotes this season after Tiannah Moore's preformance against St. Thomas. This is the first time in the Divsion I era the Yotes have had two hat tricks in the same season. It has only happened three other times in program history as well.

DIVISION I RECORD

South Dakota recorded 10 wins in a season for the first time in the Division I era and the sixth time in program history. The Yotes also have five conference wins on the season which ties for the most the Yotes have won since joining the league in 2011 excluding the conference only spring season last year.

POSTSEASON SCENARIOS

South Dakota currently sits tied for third place with Omaha in the standings with 15 points. This weekend's results can go really good for the Coyotes are really bad. If the Yotes win or tie one of their final two games they will clinch a spot in the conference tournament. However, if the Yotes were to lose out and KC and Western Illinois win out they would be in a three way tie in which the Yotes and Roos lose the tiebreaker to the Leathernecks.

If Denver were to lose to both USD and SDSU and the Yotes win out they would clinch their first ever regular season title. Another scenario with the Yotes losing out is if both Kansas City and Western Illinois also lose out then the Yotes clinch the fourth spot.

A LOOK ACROSS THE PITCH

Denver sits atop the standings with a perfect 7-0 record in conference play. The Pioneers have 21 conference points and have clinched a spot in the conference tournament next week. DU is led by standout forward Sydney Sharp who has a league leading 13 goals on the season.

For Omaha, they are currently tied with USD at third place in the standings with 15 points. The Mavericks have a 5-2 record in league play with losses Kansas City and Denver. They are led by Sophia Green who recorded four goals on the season.

LAST TIME OUT

The Yotes took home the win in their home finale against in-state rival SDSU. Senior Jordan Centineo scored the winning goal in the final minute to give the Yotes their first win over the Jacks since 2016. The Yotes recorded 10 wins for the first time in the DI era.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

The Coyotes finished the season 8-1-0 on the season while at the First Bank & Trust • Soccer Complex. It was the most wins in a season at home since the 2004 season when they went 9-2 and the most wins at home in the Division I era. South Dakota has outscored its opponent 20-4 on the season while recording six shutouts on the season. Among those • goals have been the Yotes two hat tricks on the season.

SERIES HISTORY VS DENVER
USD is looking to get its second win over the Pioneers in the all-time series history. The Yotes took the Pioneers to overtime in their first of three meetings last season while falling to them 1-0 in game two. The Pioneers hold a 9-1 record all-time and a 5-0 record while at home.

SERIES HISTORY VS OMAHA
Omaha holds s 19-3-1 record all-time dating back to the Yotes first season of college soccer in 1999. USD fell to Omaha 1-0 in overtime in their first meeting last season and 1-0 in the second meeting. Omaha is 9-1 all-time against USD at home.