VERMILLION, S.D. – The South Dakota Coyotes travel to Colorado to take on the preseason Summit League favorite Denver. The Yotes look to improve to 3-1 on the season and earn their second and third wins all-time against the Pioneers.
The Rundown
Opponent: Denver Pioneers (4-1, 4-0 Summit)
Dates: Feb. 26 | 1 p.m. & Feb. 28 | Noon
Site: Denver, Colorado
Stream: denverpioneers.com/watch ($)
Live Stats:
Click Here
Game Notes: USD |
Summit League
LAST TIME OUT
The Yotes began their spring season in Kansas City facing the new Summit League member the Kansas City Roos. In the first game in over a year, the Coyotes struggled in the first half, trailing 2-0 at the intermission. In the second half, USD caught fire scoring two goals, including one in the final five minutes. However, the Roos drew a foul in the box and converted a penalty shot to take the 3-2 win.
In the second game, the Coyotes came out of the gates firing scoring three goals in the first 45 minutes. The Yotes cashed in two more goals in the second half en route to a 5-0 shutout to split the weekend series. Head coach
Michael Thomas was proud of the way the team responded to the Friday's result.
"I thought we played well in both games," Thomas said. "But the lack of a nonconference season really showed in the first game, it was unfortunate but we learned from it and moved on. We were able to take care of details better in the second game and I was very happy with our adjustments and the results."
THE NEWCOMERS
Eight new Coyotes played for the first time in a USD uniform with
Taylor Ravelo and
Hattie Giblin recording their first goals. Outside of that, the freshmen class has had to deal with having their first season cancelled in the fall and all the challenges they've had to adjust to along with learning to adjust to college life.
"These freshmen have had an experience that no class has had before," Thomas said. "They have handled themselves so well in the preseason and in the first weekend of games. Ravelo scored her first goal from the back line,
Maliah Atkins had a strong performance and a weekend. She played with more maturity than a freshman should be able to.
Hattie Giblin was able to connect on a header for the cherry on top in the final seconds on Sunday."
CORNER KICKS
The Yotes had 15 total corner kicks to Kansas City's five this past weekend. USD scored three goals off corner kicks over the weekend.
"We've been talking a lot about concept and attitude on our set pieces," Thomas said. "It starts with services and we got some great service from
Taylor Cotter into the box and then we just had a variety of athletes that were attacking the ball and trying to win it."
A LOOK ACROSS THE PITCH
The Yotes first met for the first time in 2013 and have played every season since. USD has only defeated Denver once back in 2015 with the Pioneers holding a 6-1 record all-time. Last season, USD lost 1-0 in Vermillion. This season the Pios are 4-1 with their only loss to Power-5 Colorado. Denver has only allowed one goal in conference play so far en route to a 4-0 conference record with wins over Western Illinois and Oral Roberts.
"Denver is obviously one of the great teams in the Summit League," Thomas said. "We talk amongst our coaching staff and our team that we are here and are excited to play against the great teams. We had soccer taken away from us for a long time so we are nothing but excited to play. We are excited to see how we see stack up against a really good test early in the season."
