The Game
The Coyotes host the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at home on Saturday at 6 p.m.
 
The Series
South Dakota has competed against Southern Utah three times since 2011, but this is the first time the Thunderbirds will make the trip to Vermillion.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota began its sixth season under head coach Michael Thomas on Thursday with a 3-1 loss against Utah Tech. The lone goal for the Coyotes was scored off a corner kick in the fourth minute by Shaylee Gailus and assisted by Izzy Quintavalle. It was Gailus' 14^th career goal and Quintavalle's first collegiate assist.
 
Thomas featured 21 players on opening day. All earned double-digit minutes. Four freshmen made their collegiate debuts including midfielder Brooke Conway who was featured in the starting lineup and played 66 minutes with one shot. Freshmen defender Sam Luft logged 48 minutes off Thomas' bench. Seniors Taylor Ravelo, a defender, and goalkeeper Caroline Lewis logged all 90 minutes.
 
The Thunderbirds
Southern Utah head coach Kai Edwards signed a five-year extension following a season in which the Thunderbirds set program records for wins (9), goals (31) and shutouts (8). The Thunderbirds return six of their top 10 players in total minutes played last season. Including in that tally is Kiki Stewart, one of the best defenders in the WAC last year, and forward Whitney Gardner who earned WAC all-freshmen honors.
 
The Thunderbirds opened their season Thursday with a 4-0 loss to defending Summit League champion Omaha. Arizona State transfer Julia Ortega made seven saves in 79 minutes as Southern Utah's new goalkeeper. Mayu Yamamoto, an NAIA all-American midfielder at Snow College a year ago, was also featured in the starting lineup. Yamamoto scored 12 goals and had 12 assists in 16 games last season.