SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – With one weekend remaining in Summit League play, Oral Roberts and Denver sit tied atop the standings with 16 points apiece. The Golden Eagles remain unbeaten in league action and will close the regular season with two home matches, while the Pioneers have one home contest left. South Dakota State follows five points back with 11, and Kansas City sits fourth with 10 points.
Following last week’s play, ORU, DU, SDSU, KC, and South Dakota clinched the first five spots in the Summit League Championship. Omaha and North Dakota will battle this week for the final spot in the postseason.
With the No. 1 seed still up for grabs, Oral Roberts faces North Dakota State and South Dakota State to close the regular season, while Denver wraps up play against South Dakota on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Eagles can secure the top seed for the first time since 2004 with a win over the Bison or Jackrabbits.
Omaha begins its final homestand against the Yotes on Thursday and finishes up its slate with the Roos on Sunday, while North Dakota finishes the regular season at St. Thomas on Sunday.
All Summit League games will be streamed on the Summit League Network.
Around The League
• Oral Roberts earned a win in its lone match of the week, defeating North Dakota 2-1 on the road.
• After going down 1-0 in the first half, ORU rattled off two consecutive goals in the 74th minute by Marlee Fort and 78th minute by Brianna Castleberry. Castleberry was credited with her fourth goal of the season and the game-winner.
• On Monday, Oct. 20, ORU goalkeeper Eirini Manoukaraki was named captain of the Greece U-19 team in the upcoming UEFA European World Cup Qualifiers. The freshman standout ranks second in goals allowed (11) and fourth in shutouts (4).
• With one week left in the regular season, ORU and DU sit in a tie for first place in the standings, with two matches remaining for Oral Roberts and one for Denver.
• Denver wraps up the regular season against South Dakota on Sunday in the Mile High City.
• Last Sunday in DU's 2-1 win over Omaha, Pioneer midfielder Samantha Dreiling dished an assist in the 28th minute to secure her eighth assist of the season, ranking first in the conference.
• South Dakota State recorded its second league draw of the season on Saturday against in-state rival South Dakota. The defensive affair led to a 0-0 finish despite the Jacks being outshot 16-10.
• The Jacks have a chance to rebound with a pair of road matches against KC and league-leading ORU.
• Kansas City grabbed a pair of road wins at North Dakota State (3-1) and North Dakota (2-1) to push its win streak to three and clinch a spot in the Summit League Championship.
• Delfina Zolesio netted her league-leading 11th goal in the 24th minute against North Dakota, extending her lead to four goals over the next highest scorer.
• Kansas City midfielder Olivia Platt played all 180 minutes and tallied two goals and an assist during the Roos’ perfect week, earning a spot on the
Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week (Oct. 21).
• South Dakota clinched a spot in the Summit League Championship following a draw vs. SDSU. The Yotes are fifth in the league standings and wrap up the regular season at Omaha on Thursday and Denver on Sunday.
• Both Omaha and North Dakota are on a two-game skid and find themselves battling for the final spot in the postseason. The Mavericks are currently sixth in the standings with seven points, while the Fighting Hawks trail with five points.
• Omaha closes the regular season with a two-game homestand against South Dakota and Kansas City, while North Dakota wraps up its schedule with a single match at St. Thomas.
• After battling St. Thomas to a 1-1 draw on the road Sunday afternoon, North Dakota State looks to finish its season on a high note with a Thursday night trip to Oral Roberts.
• The Tommies wrap up their season at home against North Dakota on Sunday, coming off back-to-back draws.
This Week In The Summit League (All Times Local To Site)
Thursday, Oct. 23 | TV/Stream
North Dakota State at Oral Roberts | SLN | 7 p.m.
South Dakota State at Kansas City | SLN | 7 p.m.
South Dakota at Omaha | SLN | 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 26 | TV/Stream
Kansas City at Omaha | SLN | 1 p.m.
North Dakota at St. Thomas | SLN | 1 p.m.
South Dakota State at Oral Roberts | SLN | 1 p.m.
South Dakota at Denver | SLN | 1 p.m.
ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL TO SITE
Key: SLN (Summit League Network)
Results
Thursday, Oct. 9
South Dakota 1, Kansas City 1
St. Thomas 2, Oral Roberts 2
South Dakota State 0, Denver 1
Sunday, Oct. 12
St. Thomas 2, Kansas City 3
North Dakota 1, North Dakota State 0
Omaha 1, South Dakota State 3
South Dakota 1, Oral Roberts 2
Thursday, Oct. 16
Oral Roberts 2, North Dakota 1
Denver 1, St. Thomas 1
Kansas City 3, North Dakota State 1
Saturday, Oct. 18
South Dakota State 0, South Dakota 0
Sunday, Oct. 19
Kansas City 2, North Dakota 1
Denver 2, Omaha 1
North Dakota State 1, St. Thomas 1
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