CEDAR FALLS, IOWA— The South Dakota women's soccer team opened the 2026 season in dominant fashion Wednesday, earning a 4-0 victory over Northern Iowa.
The Coyotes controlled the match from the opening whistle, scoring twice in the first half before adding two more goals after halftime to secure the shutout. South Dakota opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Brooke Conway finished a feed from Brooklynn Pollmiller to give the Coyotes a 1-0 advantage.
Freshman Kinsley Pesicka doubled the lead in the 37th minute, scoring her first collegiate goal just two minutes after entering the match. Pesicka, a native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was the 2025 South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year during her senior year of high school. Klarissa Vega, the 2025 Summit League Newcomer of the Year, assisted on the goal.
Vega added another assist in the 60th minute when Gabbie Ryan extended South Dakota's lead to 3-0.
The Coyotes capped the scoring in the final seconds of the match when Elsa Nygren found the back of the net off an assist from freshman Makenna Martin.
South Dakota finished with a 21-5 advantage in shots and put nine attempts on frame. The Coyotes also earned eight corner kicks compared to two for the Panthers.
Goalkeeper Cambell Fischer made three saves to record the shutout, while Samantha Mattes saw the final nine minutes in goal.
The Coyotes return to action this Sunday on the road to take on Nebraska at 1:05 p.m. in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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