VERMILLION, S.D. – The South Dakota Coyotes travel to Omaha to compete in the Summit League Tournament Semifinals on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Caniglia Field on the campus of Omaha. The Yotes are the No. 4 seed in the tournament and will face the No. 1 seeded Denver Pioneers.
 
    THE RUNDOWN
    Opponent: Denver (14-1-1)
    Date: Thursday, April 15 @ 2 p.m.
    Site: Caniglia Field
    Stream: Click Here
    Live Stats: Click Here
    Game Notes: USD | Summit League
 




LATE SEASON DOMINANCE
The Yotes finished the season winning their last eight of 10 games with its last loss coming to SDSU on March 19. USD only allowed two goals in its last six games and recorded 21 goals.
Against the North Dakota schools, the Yotes recorded four straight shutouts while recording 15 goals. Emma Harkleroad and Alexis Mitchell were both named Players of the Week during the hot streak.
 
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS
 USD's offense is clicking at the right time. In the past four games, the Yotes have recorded 15 goals which is more than 169 Division I teams did all season. They've also scored as many as 13 schools have all season. During the six-game winning streak, the Yotes have 21 goals while only giving up two goals.
 
COYOTES IN THE TOURNAMENT
This will be the first time the two teams have faced each other in the Summit League Tournament and the second ever time the Yotes have made the tournament. The winner advances to the Summit League Championship on Saturday at 4 p.m. to face the winner of Omaha and South Dakota State.
 
South Dakota is 0-1 all-time in the Summit League Tournament while holding a 1-3 record at Caniglia Field since it was transitioned to a soccer field in 2012. This will be the first tournament appearance for third year head coach Michael Thomas. The Yotes faced North Dakota State in the 2015 tournament, with the Yotes as the No. 4 seed. In that game, the Yotes took the No. 1 seeded Bison to two overtimes before falling 4-3.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Yotes rank 10th in the nation with 35 goals scored on the season. Additionally, USD ranks 28th in the nation with 2 assists per game and 11th with 32 total assists.
 
2020 ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE AWARDS
The Summit League announced its end of the season soccer awards on Wednesday ahead of the conference tournament. Alexis Mitchell, Taylor Cotter, Emma Harkleroad and Taylor Ravelo received all-Summit honors.
 
Mitchell was selected to the first team while Cotter, Harkleroad and Ravelo were named to the second team. Ravelo was also selected for the all-Newcomer team. South Dakota's four selections to the first and second teams were its most since joining the Summit League. The Coyotes' four selections to the first and second teams trailed only Denver and South Dakota State who finished one and two in the standings.
 
Mitchell earned first team honors for the first time in her career and earned a spot on the all-league team for the second straight season. Ravelo, Cotter and Harkleroad all earned their first career all-league team honors.
 
A LOOK ACROSS THE PITCH
Denver won its third straight Summit League regular season title this past season. They finished the regular season at 14-1-1. The Pioneers are 34-5-5 in their conference tournament games and are 13-3-2 in the semifinals and 10-1-3 in the conference finals.
 
Last time out the Pioneers recorded its third and fourth shutouts in the last five matches to earn a pair of 1-0 wins to clinch the 2020 regular season title.
 
The Pioneers are led by Natalie Beckman with 10 goals while Sami Feller has seven goals on the season. Beckman earned the offensive player of the year honors. In between the pipes, Nerea Arrazola has 34 saves on the season while having a 79.1 save percentage
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Pioneers hold the 8-1 series record all-time. Denver took a pair of games earlier this season and have won the past six games in the series. The first game between the two came in the
2013 season.

ADMISSION 
Admission to Caniglia Field for the Summit League Tournament is free for all fans. For the safety of our guests, participants, coaches and staff, Omaha Athletics asks that you please maintain social distancing and wear a facial covering at all time, unless eating or drinking, while inside Caniglia Field. Seats will be marked to ensure proper social distancing. Free parking will be available in the East Parking Garage. 
 
FAN EXPERIENCE
Fans will be allowed to bring their own food and drinks in to Caniglia Field.