VERMILLION, S.D. – Earning a draw against the preseason runner-up helped the South Dakota soccer program solidify its standing as the second half of conference play begins this week.
 
Through four matches, the Coyotes are 1-1-2 in Summit League play to sit in sixth place. There are four schools tied atop the conference standings with 10 points (three wins, one tie). The Coyotes have seen two of the four, South Dakota State and Omaha, already this season.
 
The Coyotes now shift their focus to a pair of games in North Dakota, playing in Grand Forks against the Fighting Hawks Thursday and playing in Fargo against the Bison Sunday.
 
THE COYOTES
South Dakota and South Dakota State started the 2024-25 First Interstate Bank Interstate Series with a draw Friday night. The Jackrabbits got in the first punch with a goal in the 16^th minute but the Coyotes evened the score in the 29^th. Both defenses and goalkeepers kept their opponents out of the net for the remainder of the match.
 
Cambell Fischer recorded a career-high seven saves in the draw and Brooke Conway scored her third goal in seven matches. Brooke Nelson recorded her first assist as a Coyote and Ashby Johnston totaled her second assist of the year.
 
THE OPPONENTS
The Coyotes play their final two road matches of the regular season this week as they face North Dakota and North Dakota State. The Fighting Hawks are looking for their first conference win, standing at 0-3-2, and the Bison are a part of the four-way tie for first with a 3-1-1 record.
 
North Dakota is currently on a three-match losing streak, including a 1-0 loss at Omaha and a 3-2 loss at Kansas City last week. Four Fighting Hawks have four goals this season. Kaylie Fowler leads North Dakota with 11 points (four goals, three assists).
 
The Bison are coming off their first loss of the conference season Sunday at Denver. Prior to that match, the Bison had won three consecutive matches by a goal. NDSU faces South Dakota State Thursday night prior to Sunday's match with the Coyotes.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Coyotes have faced the Fighting Hawks more than any other school in the program's history. Thursday will be the 37^th meeting between the two teams, with USD holding the 17-14-5 advantage all-time. The Coyotes have won four of the last five meetings and hold a 5-2 record against North Dakota as Summit League foes.
 
The Coyotes and Bison are meeting for the 22^nd time on Sunday, with the Bison holding a 14-6-1 record against the Coyotes. South Dakota has had most of its' success against the Bison in the Michael Thomas era, having one four of the last five meetings and is 4-3 against NDSU in Thomas' six previous seasons as head coach.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
The Coyotes and Fighting Hawks are set for a 3 p.m. start in Grand Forks Thursday night. Sunday's match in Fargo is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start time. Both matches will be available to watch on the Summit League Network. You can also follow @SDCoyotesSoccer on X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook for more content.

ONE LAST THING
Part of the reason South Dakota and North Dakota played each other more than any other opponent is due to the NCAA Division I transition for both programs. They played each other multiple times a season during the transition, including once playing four times in a single season. In 2009, the Coyotes were 4-12-1 overall, but all four wins were against North Dakota. USD won two non-conference matches, a conference regular season match, and a conference tournament match against UND.