SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Oral Roberts checks in as the No. 1 seed and won both matches in the final weekend of the regular season, finishing a ten-game League unbeaten streak for an 8-0-2 League record and a 26-point total that ranks second in Summit League history and first among non-COVID seasons.
ORU’s 0.842 winning percentage is also the fourth-best win-loss-tied percentage in all of Division I. In the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer West Region rankings, Oral Roberts checks in at No. 3.
Oral Roberts ranks highly among the country’s best in several categories, ranking ninth in goal differential (30) and eighth in goals-against average (0.526) while Summit League Midfielder of the Year Cameron Silva ranks eighth nationally with eight assists and All-Summit League First Team F Brianna Castleberry ranks ninth with five game-winning goals. Silva was one of three individual award winners as Austin Risenhoover was named the Summit League Coach of the Year while Hannah Voskuhl collected Defensive Player of the Year honors.
In the latest NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer RPI rankings, Oral Roberts comes in at No. 73. The Summit League continues to rank highly among all NCAA Division I conferences, being second in goals allowed (174) and third in save percentage (0.783).
After entering the last week in third place in Pod A, North Dakota State battled to a pair of one-goal victories against South Dakota and South Dakota State to win the pod and earn a bye to the semifinals in Tulsa. Tied at 2-2 late Thursday night on the final week of the regular season, the Bison and Coyotes scored three goals in the final three minutes, capped by Isabel Garcia’s first goal of the season in the 90th minute to jump USD and hold second place.
Another highlight from the Bison’s victory came in the 12th mintue when Payton Mulberry lifted a free kick from just inside of 60 yards over the keeper and to the back of the net, the first goalkeeper goal in Bison history. On the last Saturday, NDSU capped its climb up the table with a 1-0 win at South Dakota State. Gabrielle Garrett netted a 22nd minute goal while Mulberry stopped seven shots en route to victory.
North Dakota State’s Morgan Russmann was named Offensive Player of the Year for the second time in the last three seasons. Russman scored five goals and added an assist in nine games for the Bison, helping lead NDSU to first place in Pod A and a bye to the semifinals. The Bison will take on South Dakota in the semifinals. The Coyotes will make their third semifinal appearance in program history after earning its first advancement ever in a penalty shootout victory against Omaha.
South Dakota controlled most of the first 45 minutes, outshooting Omaha 8-2, including a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal. Cadence Fagan was dialed in for the Mavericks, making four saves to keep the game scoreless. Each goalie had scrambles that they held off to keep the game scoreless. In the 16th minute, Fagan made a diving stop on a left-footed strike before staying in front of the rebound to force it away. In the 62nd minute, Cambell Fischer stopped a shot of her own before a Maverick header landed just high of the net.
With under seven minutes to go in regulation, each team had a high-quality chance that would get sent away, forcing the match into extra time. Kinsley Pesicka of South Dakota and Payten Ivins of Omaha each earned chances but Fagan and Fischer, as they had all day, sent shots away. After 20 minutes of extra time, the game went to penalties. The Coyotes saw scores from Brooke Conway, Klarissa Vega and Sam Luft before Riley Reed punched one home into the bottom right corner to push the Coyotes across the finish line.
In the other semifinal, St. Thomas will take on host Oral Roberts after earning a 3-2 overtime victory against the three-time defending conference tournament champion South Dakota State. South Dakota State outshot St. Thomas 10-2 total and 4-1 on goal while taking six corners. Sophia Alvarez made four saves to keep the game scoreless.
The Tommies broke through in the 55th minute when Kalli Knowles found the back of the net off assists from Melina Knowles and Ana Oenning to open the scoring. In the 74th minute, Abbi Gibbs scored her first career goal, heading in a Mia Bosch corner kick to even the scoring. Alvarez would save a penalty kick in the 81st minute to keep the game tied before a Jenna Maloy goal in the 83rd minute put the Jackrabbits in front 2-1. With the Tommies’ season on the line, Becca Smith netted a penalty kick in the 89th minute to send the game into overtime.
In the 107th minute, the Tommies were able to attack. Melina Knowles shook a defender near midfield and was able to find Kalli Knowles. K. Knowles raced down the field, beating her defender before finding Izzy McEwan in front of an open net for the game-winner.
This Week In The Summit League (All Times Local To Site)
2026 #SummitWSOC Championship
Semifinal | Thursday, Nov. 12
S1: (2) North Dakota State vs. South Dakota | SLN | 2 p.m.
S2: (1) Oral Roberts vs. St. Thomas | SLN | 6 p.m.
Championship | Sunday, Nov. 15
C: S1 Winner vs. S2 Winner | SLN | 1 p.m.
ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL TO SITE
Key: SLN (Summit League Network)
#SummitWSOC
