VERMILLION, S.D. – The South Dakota Coyotes hit the road to face Colorado State Thursday and Wyoming on Sunday. The Yotes hit the road for the first time this 2021 season. This will be the first time Colorado State and South Dakota meet on the pitch while Wyoming leads the all-time series 4-2.


    The Rundown
    Opponents: Colorado State (0-1) & Wyoming (1-0)
    Dates: Thursday @ 5 p.m. | Sunday @ 2 p.m.
    Site: Fort Collins, Colorado | Laramie, Wyoming
    Stream: csurams.com/watch | gowyo.com/watch
    Live Stats: Colorado State | Wyoming
    Game Notes: USD | Summit League



BIG TEAM
 
After only losing one starter and gaining eight freshmen the 2021 South Dakota women's soccer roster boast 37 players. The Yotes have 24 underclassmen ranging from eight different states.
 
2020 SNAPSHOT
 
USD recorded one of its best seasons in the Division I era. The 2020 team recorded nine wins for the second time in three seasons and reeled off six straight wins to set a DI era record for consecutive wins. The Yotes finished the season winning their last 8-of-10 games to clinch their second ever spot in the four team conference tournament. South Dakota dominated on both ends of the field in 2020.
 
The defense only allowed 19 goals on the season while recording six shutouts. On the offensive side of things, the Yotes led the Summit League with 2.1 goals per game and finished the season ranked 15th in the nation with 35 total goals scored. The Yotes had four members on the all-Summit League Team in Alexis Mitchell, Taylor Ravelo, Emma Harkleroad and Taylor Cotter.
 
During the six game winning streak the Coyotes only allowed two goals to Oral Roberts befor shutting out the North Dakota schools 15 goals to zero. The Yotes fell short in the Summit League quarterfinal game but with most of their pieces back the Yotes are gearing up to make another postseason run.
 
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS
 
Outside of the team accomplishment's last season, the Yotes had a number of players earn a spot in the record book. Taylor Cotter moved to third all-time with 13 assists while Alexis Mitchell moved to fifth with 12 assists in a career. Cotter moved to second in a single season with eight assists and Mitchell cashed in her four penalty goal to move to third all-time. Emma Harkleroad's name is in just about every goalkeeper career stat. She is ninth in all-time saves, fifth in save percentage, second in goals against average, seventh in most wins and seventh in most shutouts. Both Alexis Mitchell and Abby Ostrem are in the top-10 for minutes played all-time at USD while Taylor Ravelo is eighth all-time in game winning goals.

TEAM CONNECTIONS

- South Dakota assistant coach Maggie Sherman graduated from CSU in 2015 and was a part of the inaugural CSU soccer team as a goalkeeper. She recorded the first win in program history against Nevada in 2013. Kendra Gipson & Kyla Knapke at Grandview HS won two Colorado 5A State Championships. Gracie Armstrong & Brooke Kercher-Pratt at Legacy HS and played club for Indios Denver during summers. 

 
A LOOK ACROSS THE PITCH
 
Colorado State fell 1-0 to a familiar face in Denver last time out for the Rams. The two teams went to overtime after a scoreless 90 minutes. It was in the first overtime that Denver put one in the net after a CSU blocked shot. Wyoming rallied to defeat Colorado School of Mines 2-1 to give Colleen Corbin her first career win in Laramie. The Orediffers struck first in the 18th minute and took the 1-0 lead into the second half. However, the Cowgirls knocked home the games next two goals in the 71st and 81st minute to secure the 2-1 victory.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Coyotes and Wolves played to a scoreless 90 minutes and after the first 10 minutes of overtime the scoreboard still read 0-0. Shortly in the second OT, Maliah Atkins got her foot on a ball knocked down in the box off a corner kick to give the Yotes the golden goal.