Third-seeded Omaha blanks second-seeded SDSU to reach title game

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Omaha freshman Emma Kunsmo delivered her first career shutout and midfielder Grace Ostergaard tallied a 17th-minute goal to lead the third-seeded Mavericks past second-seeded South Dakota State in a #SummitWSOC semifinal tilt Sunday at Fishback Soccer Park. The loss was the first of the season for the Jackrabbits, who were the last unbeaten team in Division I soccer after entering the match with a 13-0-5 record.

Kunsmo's first of six saves came on an SDSU breakaway chance early in the match and just a few minutes later, defender Grace Crockett sent a corner kick into the box that Ostergaard headed past a diving Hailey Fischer in the SDSU goal.

Omaha would not relinquish the lead, but Kunsmo and her defense held strong under constant pressure by the Jackrabbits.

SDSU would outshoot the Mavericks 21-6 with 14 of those attempts coming in the final 45 minutes when the home team earned 10 corner kicks. The Jackrabbits were only able to get two of those attempts on frame though as they could not find the breakthrough against the rookie netminder from California.

#SummitWSOC Player of the Year Maya Hansen had a decent look after a scrum following one of those SDSU corner kicks, but her only shot of the match went just high.

Omaha will host No. 4 seed Oral Roberts in next Saturday's title match after the Golden Eagles knocked off top-seeded Denver in the other semifinal played earlier in the day at the Mile High City.

Turning point

Crockett's 17th-minute corner kick found the head of Ostergaard, who sent a shot past a diving Hailee Fischer for the only tally of the match.

Inside the box score

Kunsmo made a career-high six saves to record her first shutout of the season. This marked just the second time in her eight starts this season that she played the full 90 mintues as she usually splits time with Mia Reedtz.
Ostergaard's goal was her seccond of the season, while Crockett delivered her team-high fifth assist of the season. Crockett assisted on both of Omaha's goals in quarterfinal and semifinal action here in Brookings.
SDSU outshot Omaha 7-3 in the first half, putting four of those attempts on goal. The Jackrabbits doubled their shot output int he second half, holding a 14-3, but they could only force Kunsmo into a pair of saves after the break.

News & Notes

Omaha's victory snapped a 38-match unbeaten streak for South Dakota State on its home field at Fishback Soccer Park. The Mavericks were the last team to beat the Jackrabbits as well, doing so in the 2018 #SummitWSOC semifinals with a 3-1 victory.
SDSU was shutout for just the third time this season in 19 matches.
This is Omaha's fourth semifinal appearance and all have come against the Jackrabbits. The Mavericks are now 3-1 in those contests.
SDSU won the regular season matchup between these two teams 3-0 on Oct. 2.

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