DENVER, Colo. – South Dakota State sophomore Kayla Anderson registered her first goal of the season in double overtime of Thursday's second semifinal of the #SummitWSOC Championships to lift the second-seeded Jackrabbits by third-seeded Omaha, 1-0, at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
The first half saw both the Jackrabbits and Mavericks record three shots, but none were on target for either side. SDSU came out attacking early in the second half, getting four shots off in the opening seven minutes. Omaha goalkeeper Rachel Thigpen made one save during that stretch, while Jackrabbit senior Maya Hansen also put one off the crossbar.
Omaha tacked on four shots in the second half, but the Jackrabbit defense held the Mavericks to zero shots on goal during regulation. Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year Jocelyn Tanner had to make her first two saves of the match in extra time.
In double overtime, Omaha had a chance at ending the game, but forward Hannah Heinemann's header went high. With time winding down and penalty kicks looming, Hansen found sophomore Kayla Anderson on a cross to the middle of the box. Thigpen got a piece of the shot to steer it towards the post, but the ball had other ideas and just enought momentum to trickle its way in for the golden goal.
The Jackrabbits will play No. 1 seed Denver on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT. This will be the first time since 2019 the Pioneers and Jackrabbits will meet in the title game, where No. 2 South Dakota State beat No. 1 Denver by a 4-2 margin in penalty kicks.
Turning point
- With just over three minutes remaining in double overtime, sophomore Kayla Anderson's attempt at the game winner looked as though it would be stopped by Omaha goalkeeper Rachel Thigpen, but it found its way in for the goal.
Inside the box score
- Anderson's game-winning goal was her first goal of the season and first game-winning goal of her career.
- All-league first teamer Maya Hansen recorded her fifth assist of the season and 31st point overall, which is tops on the team.
News & Notes
- The championship matchup is a rematch of the 2019 contest played in Brookings, S.D., when No. 2 South Dakota State defeated No. 1 Denver in a shootout.
- DU and SDSU recently played each other this past Sunday in Denver with the Pioneers outlasting the Jackrabbits 2-0 to claim the regular season title.
- Both semifinal matches went to overtime for the first time since 2010.
#SummitWSOC
