South Dakota State blanks Northern Iowa

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BROOKINGS – South Dakota State beat Northern Iowa 1-0 in a nonconference women’s soccer match Friday evening in front of a lively crowd of 377 at Fishback Soccer Park.

“Coming into this game we talked about starting with the right mindset, and I was really pleased how we came out at the opening whistle,” coach Brock Thompson told SDSU Sports Information. “I thought we had great energy, played with great enthusiasm; and I really thought we were able to play the best half of soccer we’ve played this season in the first half.

“I thought throughout the game our back line did a really good job of dealing with UNI’s dangerous attacking players and then being able to start the attack, and our team responded.”

Marisa Schulz redirected Annie Williams’ shot in front of the goal into the back of the net in the 16th minute for the Jackrabbits, who were coming off their first home loss since 2016.

SDSU goalkeeper Maggie Smither made six saves, including a diving stop on a short free kick late in the opening half, to pick up the shutout win – her third of the season to go with one combined shutout.

The Jackrabbits outshot the Panthers 19-11, including 10-6 on goal. SDSU took six corner kicks to UNI’s two. The game featured 18 fouls – UNI had 10 and SDSU eight.

The Panthers’ Jami Reichenberger had nine saves.

Williams paced SDSU with four shots, including three on goal.

Northern Iowa (2-2-2) plays at North Dakota State on Sunday at 1 p.m.

South Dakota State (4-3, 4-1 home) wraps up its six-match homestand taking on Arizona State on Monday at 6 p.m.

Notes (from SDSU Sports Information): Williams now has 10 career points (three goals and four assists). … Smither is tied for third in school history in goalkeeper games played with 45. She moved up to fourth in wins with 22, passing Elisa Stamatakis.

Register photo: South Dakota State’s Abigail Kastens fires a shot on goal past Northern Iowa’s Julianne Trizzino (4) late in the first half of the Jackrabbits’ 1-0 nonconference victory over the Panthers on Friday evening at Fishback Soccer Park.