Manuleleua, Smither honored by Summit League

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ELMHURST, Ill. – For the second consecutive week, South Dakota State swept the Summit League Women’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards as Leah Manuleleua and Maggie Smither were honored.

SDSU locked up a spot in the 2017 Summit League Championship after going 2-0 last week, taking down IPFW 2-0 at home Thursday and Oral Roberts 2-0 on the road Sunday.

The first-place Jackrabbits (9-4-3, 5-0) have won seven straight matches and are unbeaten in the past nine.

Manuleleua, a sophomore from Manteca, Calif., netted two goals for the week. She scored the game-winner against the Mastodons and added an insurance goal versus the Golden Eagles.

Manuleleua has recorded a point in five consecutive games and is tied with Nicole Hatcher for the team lead in goals (six). She has been recognized twice in her career as Offensive Player of the Week.

Smither, a sophomore from Sioux Falls, totaled 10 saves – three versus IPFW and seven against ORU – to push her shutout streak to four matches and lower her goals-against average to 0.89. She’s allowed just one goal in conference play.

Smither has earned the Defensive Player of the Week award twice in her career.

SDSU closes out regular-season play this week, playing host to fifth-place South Dakota (4-11, 2-3) on Thursday at 6 p.m. and second-place North Dakota State (7-9, 5-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m.