VERMILLION, S.D. – The grind of the non-conference schedule wraps up this week as the South Dakota women's soccer team has a pair of games in the Mountain Time Zone due up, starting Thursday at Northern Colorado before heading to Wyoming for a match Sunday.
 
The Coyotes (2-3-2) went 0-1-1 in a pair of matches last week, drawing 1-1 at Central Michigan before a 3-2 loss at home against Portland State Sunday. Following this week's set of matches, South Dakota has 11 days between the non-conference and conference portions of the schedule, its longest break of the season.
 
THE COYOTES
The Coyotes are looking for their first road victory of the season, currently holding a 0-1-2 record away from First Bank & Trust Soccer Complex. South Dakota has played to a pair of 1-1 draws on the road, including their last road trip to Central Michigan.
 
The Coyotes welcomed back a key player from last season during Sunday's match. Brooke Conway (So., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) made her return to the pitch after a preseason injury. Conway made her impact known immediately against Portland State, scoring a goal moments after checking into the match for the first time.
 
Ashby Johnston (Gr., Corona, Calif.) is climbing the Coyote record books, as her goal against Central Michigan moved her into a tie for 10^th in career goals with 17. Johnston has three goals and an assist this season to lead the Coyotes with seven points. She is also tied for 7^th in career game-winning goals, totaling five of them in her career so far.
 
THE OPPONENTS
The Northern Colorado Bears (1-7) are off to a slow start this season but are coming off a big victory Sunday. After starting the season 0-7, the Bears picked up a road win at Iowa State Sunday, 1-0. Northern Colorado has three goal scorers so far this season with each player scoring one goal.
 
Wyoming (1-2-2) also picked up their first win of the season last week but are coming off a 3-3 draw at home against Montana Sunday. Wyoming has seen three people score goals so far this season, with Alyssa Bedard leading the way with three.
 
Both of South Dakota's opponents this week have seen a Summit League school already this season. South Dakota State went to Greeley and Laramie and returned with 2-0 and 3-0 victories over the Bears and Cowgirls. The two teams have also faced each other this season, as Wyoming's Bedard scored two of her three goals on the season in a 2-0 win over the Bears.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Coyotes and Bears have faced off seven times in program history, three times as Division I foes. Northern Colorado leads the all-time series 4-3, but the Coyotes lead the Division I history with a 2-1 record against the Bears, including back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019.
 
South Dakota and Wyoming have eight matches under their belts, with Wyoming holding the 5-2-1 series lead. The two schools have played four times since 2018, with Wyoming holding a 2-1-1 advantage over the Coyotes. Last season, South Dakota and Wyoming played to a 3-3 draw in Vermillion.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
The Coyotes match at Northern Colorado will be available on ESPN+ starting at 8 p.m. South Dakota and Wyoming at 2 p.m. Sunday will be available to watch on the Mountain West Network. You can also follow @SDCoyotesSoccer on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook for more content.
 
ONE LAST THING
South Dakota head coach Michael Thomas stands at 49 career wins at USD, tying him with Jessica Maddox (2000-2004) for the most wins in program history. With the Coyotes' next win, Thomas will become the first coach in South Dakota soccer history to reach 50 wins. He already holds the mark for most conference victories with 27 and has recorded four seasons with a .500 record or better, more than any other coach in the program's history.