The Game
South Dakota (7-4-4, 3-2-1 Summit) begins the final week of the regular season with a Thursday night match with the Kansas City Roos (2-6-7, 1-3-2) in Missouri. Start time is 7 p.m.
South Dakota is third in the Summit League standing with 10 points, two less than second-place South Dakota State. Kansas City is tied for sixth place with five points and they host South Dakota State Sunday in its final match. The top six teams advance to the tournament so every point is crucial.
The Series
Kansas City leads the series 8-3-1 but South Dakota has won two of the last three. The Roos won last year's dual 1-0 in Vermillion. The previous four games took place in Kansas City. The Coyotes earned a 5-0 win there in 2020 and won 1-0 in 2021.
The Coyotes
South Dakota downed North Dakota State 2-1 in its final home game of the regular season Sunday behind two early goals from Ashby Johnston and Taylor Ravelo. Johnston is tied for the league lead in goals with eight and Ravelo has three. Brooke Conway, Izza Quintavalle and Rylee Haldeman are atop the Summit's assist leaders with five apiece.
South Dakota can clinch a tournament berth with a point Thursday or with a North Dakota tie or loss at St. Thomas.
The Roos
Kansas City fell at the buzzer 3-2 to Omaha in an offensive matchup Sunday in Nebraska. The Roos led 1-0 and 2-1, but the Mavericks scored twice in the final six minutes to steal the win. Marissa Gohr netted the winner with 19 seconds left after Kansas City failed to clear a throw in near the net.
Briana Castleberry didn't play as a true freshman last year, but is having a sensational sophomore season for the Roos. She has six of the team's 16 goals on the year and two assists. She had one of each in Sunday's contest against Omaha.
Kansas City goalkeeper Riley Moore ranks third in the league in saves per game (4.87) after making three saves against the Mavericks.
Up Next
The Coyotes stay on the road for their last match of the regular season. South Dakota takes on Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sunday at 1 p.m.
