SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – As the last week of league play approaches, North Dakota State controls its own destiny to secure the program's first regular season championship since 2015. With a 5-1-1 ledger, the Bison play host to St. Thomas Sunday and a win over the Tommies would give NDSU 19 points and at least a share of the regular season title. A victory would also give NDSU the right to host the 2024 Women's Soccer Championship semifinals and title match on Nov. 7 and 10.

The Bison, South Dakota State, Omaha, Denver and Oral Roberts have all secured a berth in the postseason tournament, but all six seeds remain open heading into Thursday.

Around The League
• NDSU moved to the top of the standings thanks to wins over SDSU and South Dakota at home last week. Bison freshman Morgan Russmann had another outstanding weekend, earning Offensive Peak Performer after providing the game-winner against the Jackrabbits (1-0) and logging her second career brace against the Coyotes (4-2).
• Sitting three points shy of the Bison are the Jackrabbits, whose loss to NDSU ended an 11-match unbeaten streak. The Jackrabbits quickly regrouped with a 3-0 victory at North Dakota to keep their regular season title hopes ticking.
• SDSU (4-1-1; 13 points), Denver (3-1-2; 11 points) and Oral Roberts (3-1-2; 11 points) also remain alive for a possible regular season title entering the final matches of the league slate. The Jackrabbits host both the Pioneers and Golden Eagles, who also play a road match at South Dakota.
• The Jackrabbits could win the outright title with wins over DU and ORU, coupled with an NDSU loss or draw against St. Thomas. The Pioneers and Golden Eagles would need to win both of their matches and also need the Bison to suffer a loss or draw with the Tommies.
• Omaha, who currently sits in third with a 3-1-3 record and 12 points closes out its regular season with a road match against Kansas City. The Mavericks played to a pair of 1-1 draws on the road last week at Denver and Oral Roberts.
• Grace Ostergaard made her record breaking 93rd-career start in the Mavericks' 1-1 draw against the Pioneers last week.
• Maverick senior Cece Behrens scored the equalizer for Omaha in the 87th minute to earn a point against the Golden Eagles.
• Redshirt senior Addisyn Hyrup scored the opening goal of DU's draw with Omaha, which was her fifth career goal.
• The Golden Eagles kept their regular season title hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Kansas City on Senior Night with a 1-0 win over the Roos. Junior Carson Arne scored her first career goal in the 47th minute to secure the win for ORU.
• Junior Lela Stark scored the opener in the 69th minute of ORU's 1-1 tie with Omaha, but the Mavericks answered back shortly before the match concluded to salvage a point.
• South Dakota and North Dakota are still alive for the final postseason berth. The Coyotes need just one draw against ORU or DU to clinch, while the Fighting Hawks would need a win over St. Thomas and two losses by South Dakota to finish in a tie for sixth and see which team advances based on tiebreaker scenarios. 
• The two teams battled to a 1-1 last week, so the next tiebreaker scenario is league goal differential, which the Coyotes (8-9) currently hold a five-goal advantage on the Fighting Hawks (6-12). 
• St. Thomas won its first league match of the season after recording a 1-0 win against Kansas City. Lexi Huber scored her sixth goal of the season, which has her tied for third most in overall games.
 
This Week In The Summit League (All Times Local to Site)
Thursday, Oct. 24 | TV/Stream | Local Time
St. Thomas at North Dakota| SLN | 3 p.m.
Denver at South Dakota State | SLN | 6 p.m.
Oral Roberts at South Dakota| SLN | 6 p.m.
 
Sunday, Oct. 27 | TV/Stream
Denver at South Dakota | SLN | 1 p.m.
Oral Roberts at South Dakota State | SLN | 1 p.m.
Omaha at Kansas City | SLN | 1 p.m.
St. Thomas at North Dakota State | SLN | 1 p.m.
 
National Rankings (United Soccer Coaches/Top Drawer)
All Times Local To Site 
Key: SLN (Summit League Network).

Results
Thursday, Oct. 17
South Dakota 1, North Dakota 1
North Dakota State 1, South Dakota State 0
Omaha 1, Denver 1
Oral Roberts 1, Kansas City 0
 
Sunday, Oct. 20
South Dakota State 3, North Dakota 0
North Dakota State 4, South Dakota 2
Omaha 1, Oral Roberts 1
St. Thomas 1, Kansas City 0
 
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