SIOUX FALLS - The University of Sioux Falls soccer squad will once again take the pitch at the USF Sports Complex Friday and Sunday when Wayne State comes to town Friday, then Augustana makes the four-mile trek to the Sports Complex on Sunday.
The Rundown (2019 Record):
Fri., Sept. 20, 1 p.m. vs. Wayne State Wildcats (0-1-2)
Sun., Sept. 22, 1 p.m. vs. Augustana Vikings (2-1-0)
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Wayne State Wildcats (0-1-2):
The Wildcats, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Joe Cleary, have played three matches up-to-date, facing off against Central Regional opponents Harding, Nebraska-Kearney, and Missouri Western State. Against Harding, the Wildcats had a defensive showing against the Lady Bisons until the 95th minute of the contest, where the Lady Bisons hit a golden goal in overtime to defeat the Wildcats.
Against the Lopers and Griffons, the Wildcats could not get the offense going, despite outshooting the Lopers 11-6. In their match, the Lopers and Wildcats combined for three cautions (two to UNK, one to WSC). The Griffons held onto a narrow 5-4 edge against the Wildcats in the first 45 minutes of their contest, but put the medal to the metal in the second half, taking 15 shots compared to the Wildcats' zero.
Leading the Wildcats is sophomore midfielder Megan Phillips with eight shots, seven of which were on target. Defensively, senior goalkeeper Rachel Grisham has kept the Wildcats in games, collecting 10 saves, two clean sheets, and allowing only one goal in 315 minutes.
Augustana Vikings (2-1-0):
The Vikings, under the direction of 14-year head coach Brandon Barkus, have had success thus far in the season, getting wins against Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State. The only loss on the season for the Vikings came in a 5-1 victory for the No. 7 Central Missouri Jennies.
The Vikings have outshot all three opponents this year by a combined 72-to-39 mark, including 35 shots against Northwest Missouri State in their last match.
Before the in-city rivalry, the Vikings will travel to Marshall, Minn., on Friday to take on Southwest Missouri State.
Leading the Vikings is freshman forward Sylvia Fehr who has three goals on five shots on goal, nine in total. Three more Vikings have a goal on the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Claudia Pueschner has recorded a clean sheet on the season against Fort Hays, whilst compiling a 2-1 record in her 225 minutes played.
Cougars' Corner:
The Cougars are 0-3-0 on the season under the direction of third-year coach Brittany Domino, and despite the record, have shown flashes of improvement whilst dealing through injuries. In their non-conference schedule, the Cougars faced three Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association opponents in Fort Hays State, Northwest Missouri State, and Missouri Western State.
The Cougars and Tigers of Fort Hays State had a defensive battle on their hands, with the only goal of the match coming in the opening minutes of the second half. It was much of the same against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, where the teams went into halftime scoreless, but the Bearcats were able to get the lead with a 51st minute goal, and continued, getting three more by the end of the match.
Against the Griffons, the Cougars were put into an early deficit when the hot-shooting Griffons scored in the 27th minute, in the closing minutes of the first half. The Cougars got their first goal of the season in the 53rd minute when senior defender Lily McKown fed the ball to freshman forward Jaycie Dillenburg who scored the goal in the 53rd minute against the Griffons.
Dillenburg and junior midfielder Kassidy Graber are the two Cougars with multiple shots on the season, with Dillenburg having the only goal, and McKown with the only assist for the Cougars.
