DENVER—Denver took another step towards what would be a sixth consecutive Summit League title by knocking off South Dakota 3-1 Sunday at Denver Soccer Stadium.
 
The win gives the Pioneers (10-4-0, 4-0-1 Summit) 13 points in the standings with three matches remaining. The Coyotes (6-4-4, 2-2-1) stayed in fourth place with seven points.
 
Two strong goals in the opening half put Denver in firm control. Samantha Dreiling finished a drive in the ninth minute with a strike to the left side of the net. Ten minutes later, Dreiling connected a pass to Kaitlyn Glover down the middle and Glover beat the defense with a shot to the right side of the net.
 
South Dakota capitalized off a corner kick just before halftime. Maliah Atkins sent a cross to the far side where Lexie Wood gathered, centered to Taylor Ravelo and then to the foot of Kyla Brown who drove a goal just past Denver's Molly Wissman. It was Brown's first collegiate goal and the first assists of the season for Wood and Ravelo.
 
Denver struck a third time in the 63^rd minute. Coyote goalkeeper Caroline Lewis came out of the net to try and stop a Pioneer attack but missed, and Riley Baker barely got enough on a touch that rolled across the goal line before Atkins, who was hustling from the back line, could stop it. It was the third goal of the season for Baker.
 
Denver ended with a 17-10 shot advantage. The corner kicks were even at 5-5. South Dakota returns to play its final home game next Sunday in a 1 p.m. match against North Dakota State.

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— South Dakota Soccer ⚽ (@SDCoyotesSoccer) October 8, 2023