VERMILLION, S.D.— The South Dakota women's soccer team continues its 2026 season with a pair of matches this week, traveling to Green Bay on Thursday before returning home Sunday for the Coyotes' home opener against Morningside.
THE COYOTES
South Dakota enters the week with a 1-0-1 record after opening the season with a 4-0 victory at Northern Iowa before battling Nebraska to a 1-1 draw in Lincoln.
The Coyotes have already collected a pair of Summit League weekly honors, with freshman Kinsley Pesicka earning Offensive Player of the Week and goalkeeper Cambell Fischer being named Defensive Player of the Week. Pesicka has scored in both of South Dakota's opening matches, finding the net against Northern Iowa before scoring the Coyotes' lone goal against Nebraska. She enters Thursday's match with two goals and four points through the first two matches of her collegiate career.
Fischer has anchored the Coyotes in goal, allowing just one goal through 168:34 of action. She recorded a shutout in the season opener against Northern Iowa before making seven saves in the draw against Nebraska. South Dakota also received a boost this week with its first-ever regional ranking in the Division I era, checking in at No. 7 in the IWOC West Region rankings.
THE OPPONENTS
Green Bay: South Dakota travels to Green Bay Thursday for a 3 p.m. matchup against the Phoenix. The Coyotes are 2-1-1 all-time against Green Bay and enter Thursday's contest riding a two-match winning streak in the series. The teams last met in 2018. Green Bay enters the matchup with a 2-0-0 record after opening the season with road victories over North Dakota State and North Dakota. The Phoenix opened with a 3-0 win at NDSU before rallying for a 2-1 victory at North Dakota on Sunday. Senah Hanes has led the Green Bay attack with three goals through the first two matches, including a pair in the season opener and the game-winning goal against North Dakota. Laney Stark has added two goals on the season so far. Green Bay has scored five goals through two matches while allowing just one. Thursday marks the first meeting between the Coyotes and Phoenix since 2018.
Morningside: South Dakota returns to Vermillion Sunday for its 1 p.m. home opener against Morningside at First Bank & Trust Soccer Complex. The Coyotes are a perfect 6-0-0 all-time against the Mustangs, with the most recent meeting coming last season. South Dakota earned a 6-0 victory over Morningside in the teams' meeting last season. Sunday's contest marks the Coyotes' first home match of the 2026 campaign and their first opportunity to play in front of the home crowd.
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