VERMILLION, S.D. – The South Dakota women's soccer program will begin its 2020-21 season on Friday in Kansas City against the new Summit League members Kansas City. Instead of leafs falling from the trees, the Yotes will see snow as The Summit League postponed fall sports to the spring due to the global pandemic. With it being unusual circumstances and a completely different part of the year, head coach Michael Thomas said that he has talked with his team about controlling what they can control.
 
"It's so hard to have expectations coming into a season like this one," Thomas said. "There are so many variables. We spent a lot of time talking about controlling what we can control. This includes, our effort and attitude in how we approach each game and practice. We think if we do this results will follow."
 
It hasn't been just soccer adjusting to the "new normal" as all programs at USD have had to adjust to the "new normal". Football and volleyball were also apart of the move to the spring, although football is not a part of The Summit League, the Missouri Valley Football Conference also voted to move to the spring. With the subzero temperatures on some days, three programs have to share the DakotaDome with football, track and field and soccer vying for a time to practice.
 
"The women have done a great job of adapting to less than ideal conditions," Thomas said. "It's really been a group effort. I have to thank our administration, our facilities and maintenance people and everyone for working so hard to find us ways to prepare for this moment."
 
Entering their fourth year as apart of the soccer program both Alexis Mitchell and Sunny Huettner recognize how different things are now but both are ready to get back on the pitch. Both are from the Kansas City area with Mitchell being from Lee's Summit, Missouri, and Huettner from Overland Park, Kansas.
 
"I'm very eager to start our season this weekend," Huettner said. "We have a team who has been putting in a lot of work to be successful and get where we are now. It has been awesome to see the progress everyone has made since we started in August. I am really excited to play in my home state and so close to my hometown, it really means a lot to me."
 
Huettner is one of four seniors on the squad this season, but will be the only one not taking advantage of the extra year the NCAA has granted due to the pandemic.
 
After a over a year later from their last official competition, the Yotes have had a lot of time to get to know who they are as a team and how they want to represent USD.
 
"In practice we have really been focusing on who the USD women's soccer team is and running our plan," Huettner said. "We have so much talent on this team, it's heartening to see everyone come together to be on the best team we can be and work towards the goal of making the Summit League Tournament at the end of the season. It's always a privilege to represent USD on the soccer field."
 
Mitchell echoes that same feeling when it comes to playing near her home and being able to put that Coyote uniform on again.
 
"I am so excited for this upcoming season," Mitchell said. "I can whole heartedly say that I think this team is more than prepared to make a statement. It has been over 350 days since our last official game and we will never take another game for granted."
 
Although the games are in home state, Kansas City isn't allowing fans to attend its games this season, but that isn't stopping Mitchell's family from watching from the streets she said.
 
"It is very special that the first games back are in my hometown, Kansas City, even if my family has to watch from the streets," Mitchell said. "Hoping by the end of the season we end with stands full of fans and in the Summit League Tournament with a winning record."
 
Reaching the Summit League Tournament in April will be the first time for these Coyote seniors and Thomas. The last time the Yotes have made the tournament was in the 2015 season where they fell to North Dakota State in two overtimes.
 
In Thomas' first season, USD won nine games which tied the most the program has won in the Division I era. Thomas followed that up with eight wins the next season and tied for fifth place, one spot outside of the four that qualify for the tournament.
 
USD returns 19 players from a season ago and welcome in 14 freshmen to this year's squad. As mentioned before Huettner will be the only true senior among the four seniors on the team. The Yotes earned their highest preseason ranking at fifth place since joining the Summit League as well as Mitchell and senior Abby Ostrem named players to watch.
 
Ostrem and Mitchell earned second team all-Summit last season. Mitchell recorded 17 points, six goals and five assists as a junior. Redshirt-junior Emma Harkleroad returns between the pipes after recording 56 saves, two shutouts and had a 1.45 goals against average in 2019. Redshirt-Freshmen goalkeeper Caroline Lewis will be available after redshirting in 2019 as well. Senior Maddison Sullivan also returns after recording eight points, three goals and dishing out two assists.
 
The Yotes will be on the road for four series as well as hosting four series this season. South Dakota travels to Kansas City and Denver to start off the season before hosting Omaha and Western Illinois. The Coyotes will then face in-state rival SDSU and then host Oral Roberts and North Dakota State. The Yotes will finish the regular season in Grand Forks facing North Dakota.
 
The 2020-21 season will consist of a 16-match season with a round robin format. Each team will play at one location in one weekend.
 
With the weather dictating whether they will be inside or outside, Thomas said the team has done a great job overcoming the adversity.
 
"The women have worked extremely hard through a lot of adversity so far this season," Thomas said. "We spend a lot of time talking about 'being us' and our identity as a team. We want to stick to that as much as possible."
 
Both matches against Kansas City on Friday and Sunday will be live streamed at kcroos.com/watch and will have live stats available if you visit either teams schedule page. Fans can also follow along on twitter @SDCoyoteSoccer for updates throughout the games.