SDSU soccer bounces back with two blowout wins

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BROOKINGS – After suffering their its first loss of the season last weekend, the South Dakota State soccer team bounced back with two wins this weekend. The Jackrabbits took down Northern Iowa 4-1 Friday and shutout Morningside 6-0 on Sunday.

Friday

 SDSU 4, UNI 1

SDSU went down 1-0 in the 25th minute, but then responded with four-straight goals to get the win on Friday.

The Jacks (7-1) had 20 shots and 10 shots on a goal after having five shots and three on goal in a 3-0 loss against Creighton in their previous game. Thompson said he loved the way SDSU responded to its first loss of the season

“This is a very talented attacking team, and you got to see glimpses of some of the special players and some of the special play that we can create when we’re flying around a bit. It was a great response from [last weekend’s] shutout against Creighton,” Thompson said.

The Panthers’ Sophia Meier opened the scoring with a goal in the 25th minute. SDSU would tie things up nine minutes later when Avery Murdzek scored on an assist from Katherine Jones. The Jacks would take the lead just before halftime when Karlee Manding scored an unassisted goal in the 42nd minute.

Laney Murdzek would extend the lead for the Jacks in the 65th minute on an unassisted goal. Manding put the exclamation point on the win with her second goal of the night in the 84th minute that was assisted by Teani Arakawa.

SDSU outshot UNI 12-3 in the second half. Thompson said he liked the way his team kept their foot on the gas in the second half.

“To be honest I thought we started the game well. I just feel like we gave up a goal that was a against the run of play. Credit to our team. They just were able to keep our focus and really just respond to that moment and respond in the right way. We just played some really good soccer that last 45 minutes and I’m proud of the way we played,” Thompson said.

Manding scored on both of her shots. It was the first two goals of the season for her.

“[Manding] is still coming back from injury a little bit from the spring. She’s been a special player for us for the past three and a half season’s. She’s just really locked in with her game right and really just trying to get better every day. Anytime she’s on the ball something dangerous can happen and we saw that tonight,” Thompson said.

Taylor Lock had one save on the night for SDSU. The Panthers had seven total shots and two on goal. Thompson said he thought the way the Jacks dominated possession in the second half allowed his defense to play well.

“One of the things we want to do is be very good in the moment the ball is lost. We were able to attack, attack, we would lose it, but win it back right away in the attacking part of the field and it just allowed us to play some high quality, fast, attacking soccer. It created three goals in the second half, but it also created a lot of dangerous moments and made it easier for our defenders and goalkeeper in the last 45 minutes,” Thompson said.

Sunday

 SDSU 6, Morningside 0

SDSU had two players score two goals Sunday. Avery Murdzek and Maya Hansen each scored twice in the blowout win.

Avery Murzdek found the back of the net first off of a pass from her sister Laney in the third minute. Hansen scored one minute and 40 seconds later to make it 2-0.

Hansen would then score her second goal in the 14th minute and it was 3-0 at halftime. Marisa Schulz got on the board in the 53rd minute and Reagan Anderson made it 5-0 in the 79th minute. Avery Murdzek scored her second goal in the 81st minute to cap off the victory.

SDSU hosted its second annual GOALD Game Sunday. The Jacks partnered with the with the Sanford Health Foundation to help raise awareness for childhood cancer.

Jackrabbit goalkeeper Hailee Fischer is the lead player behind the GOALD Game. She has been organinzing events in honor of her cousin, Ian, who passed away three years ago from perivascular epithelioid cell cancer.

“[The GOALD Game] has been an awesome thing for Jackrabbit soccer,” Thompson said. “Hailee Fischer has done a phenomenal job. We always want to be more than just a soccer team, and it’s our way to draw awareness to a very serious illness. We can raise a little bit of money and we can honor anybody that’s been touched with childhood cancer.”

SDSU will finish a three-game homestand Friday when the Jacks host Northern Illinois at 6 p.m. at Fishback Soccer Park in Brookings.