SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Summit League women’s soccer heads into the final week of action before League play begins. Not every school will be in action this week, but seven programs hit the pitch this week to sharpen their skills before Summit League action starts September 24.
 
In the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer West Region rankings, Oral Roberts moves up to No. 3 while South Dakota State is back in the rankings at No. 8.
 
Two teams earned their first wins of the season last Thursday as St. Thomas defeated Northern Iowa, 2-1, and Kansas City defeated Missouri State, 2-0. Both games were also on the road. Kansas City stayed on the road on Sunday falling to Memphis, 1-0. St. Thomas plays its last non-League game Thursday at Lindenwood while Kansas City hosts Little Rock Saturday night.
 
In the victory against the Panthers, the Tommies’ Izzy McEwan started the scoring after converting a penalty kick to go up 1-0. The goal gives McEwan four straight games with a goal and joins her with Oral Roberts’ Brianna Castleberry as the only two in the Summit League with an active scoring streak that long. After Northern Iowa tied it back up, Alexis Larson scored in the 70th minute to give UST the winning goal of the match.
 
Kansas City’s 2-0 victory over Missouri State saw Anika Patton pick up her second clean sheet of the season, making five key saves on the night. With 37 on the year, Patton leads the Summit League in saves. The two goal-scorers of the game, Ashley Koch and Olivia Platt, picked up their first goals of the season. Platt also dished out her first assist of the year.
 
Oral Roberts extended its historic unbeaten start of the season with a 2-0 victory over Tulsa in the Mayor’s Cup before falling to No. 17 Baylor on Sunday night, 2-1. The eight unbeaten games (6-0-2) are officially tied for third in Summit League; Denver completed this feat in 2013 and 2023 when they were previously in the League.
 
While the Golden Eagles fell to the Bears, Oral Roberts battled against the nationally ranked opponent. ORU kept it within striking distance for most of the match before Baylor scored in the 41st minute to take a 1-0 lead. Oral Roberts was able to find an equalizer off a Brianna Castleberry free kick, her League-leading eighth goal of the season. Baylor responded just 81 seconds later to take the lead and hold on for the victory. Defensively, Alyson Sebban matched a season and career high with seven saves. Sebban also earned four saves and her fifth clean sheet of the season in the victory against Tulsa earlier in the week.
 
Several Summit League players can be found high in NCAA Division I rankings. Brianna Castleberry’s eight goals are tied for fifth in the nation and her 0.89 goals per game are tied for 16th. Her 18 points on the season are also tied for 13th in the country. ORU’s Cameron Silva is tied for eighth in assists (6) and 16th in assists per game (0.67). Alyson Sebban is tied for 17th in shutouts with 4. Kansas City’s Anika Patton is tied for 21st in saves per game (6.17).
 
The Summit League continues to be fourth among all NCAA Division I conferences in goals allowed (92) and save percentage (0.775).
 
South Dakota State came back from its Utah trip 1-1, with a 3-2 win over Weber State and a 3-0 loss to Utah State. The Jackrabbits scored three goals in the first 32 minutes of play, including the first two goals within two minutes of one another. Jenna Maloy scored her fifth goal of the season in the match, the second-most in the Summit League. Mia Bosch also picked up an assist on Maloy’s goal to give her a fifth assist of the year, which is also second in the League. In the loss to Utah State, goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart picked up 10 saves, the most saves in a match by a Jackrabbit goalkeeper since 2019. Benhart’s .800 save percentage is third in the League.
 
In the national rankings, South Dakota State is first in assists per game (4.75), first in assists (38), third in points (96), fourth in points per game (12.0), tied for sixth in goal differential (21) and tied for seventh in goals per game (3.63).
 
North Dakota was victorious in its lone match last week, defeating Florida Atlantic at home, 2-0, thanks to a two-goal second half. Cora Ellermann got the scoring started on a penalty kick at the 49:17 mark to give UND the 1-0 advantage. Just a minute and a half later, Hunter Borgel found the back of the net to put the Fighting Hawks up 2-0. Goalkeeper Thale Ruether recorded her first shutout as a Fighting Hawk in the victory. The Fighting Hawks will host North Dakota State College of Science on Sunday.
 
North Dakota State also hosted Florida Atlantic for its lone game of the week to an exciting 1-1 draw. After allowing an FAU goal in the 43rd minute, the Bison answered at the 89:06 mark after Amaya Garrett outpaced the defense for the game-tying goal with just 54 seconds left on the clock. The draw pushed North Dakota State’s unbeaten streak to six, the new longest active streak in the Summit League NDSU is back in action on September 24 when they travel to North Dakota for the first day of League play.
 
Omaha hosted Drake to a 1-1 draw for the Mavericks’ lone match last week. Omaha started the scoring with senior defender Jasmyn Brown connecting on a header for the Mavericks’ first goal at home of the season. The Bulldogs would answer back in the 78th minute to force the 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Cadence Fagan collected six saves in the match and only allowed seven goals on the season so far, good for a tie for third in the Summit League. OMA hosts Creighton Wednesday night for its final match before League play begins.

All home matches can be found on the Summit League Network.
 
This Week In The Summit League (All Times in Central Time)
Wednesday, Sept. 16 | TV/Stream | Time    
Creighton at Omaha | SLN | 7 p.m.
 
Thursday, Sept. 17 | TV/Stream | Time    
St. Thomas at Lindenwood | ESPN+ | 11 a.m.
 
Saturday, Sept. 19 | TV/Stream | Time    
Little Rock at Kansas City | SLN | 5 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 20 | TV/Stream | Time    
North Dakota State College of Science at North Dakota | SLN | 3 p.m.

All Times Local to Site
Key: ESPN+ (ESPN Plus), SLN (Summit League Network)

Around The League
• In the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer West Region rankings, Oral Roberts moves up to No. 3 while South Dakota State is back in the rankings at No. 8.
• Kansas City and St. Thomas picked up their first wins of the season, with KC defeating Missouri State, 2-0, and UST defeating Northern Iowa, 2-1.
•  In the win over the Panthers, Tommies’ Izzy McEwan started the scoring after converting a penalty kick. She has now scored a goal in four straight matches, joining Oral Roberts’ Brianna Castleberry as the longest active scoring streaks.
• In Kansas City’s win over Missouri State, goalkeeper Anika Patton picked up her second clean sheet of the season while also making five key saves on the night. The two goal scorers of the game, Ashley Koch and Olivia Platt, picked up their first goals of the season. Platt also dished out her first assist of the year. Patton also garnered 11 saves against RV Memphis on the road in the 1-0 defeat.
• Oral Roberts extended its historic unbeaten start of the season with a 2-0 victory over Tulsa in the Mayor’s Cup before falling to No. 17 Baylor on Sunday night, 2-1. The eight unbeaten games (6-0-2) are officially tied for third in Summit League.
• Several Summit League players can be found high in NCAA Division I rankings. Brianna Castleberry’s eight goals are tied for fifth in the nation and her 0.89 goals per game are tied for 16th. Her 18 points on the season are also tied for 13th in the country. ORU’s Cameron Silva is tied for eighth in assists (6) and 16th in assists per game (0.67). Alyson Sebban is tied for 17th in shutouts with 4. Kansas City’s Anika Patton is tied for 21st in saves per game (6.17).
• The Summit League continues to be fourth among all NCAA Division I conferences in goals allowed (92) and save percentage (0.775).
• South Dakota State went 1-1 in Utah with a 3-2 win over Weber State and a 3-0 loss to Utah State. The Jackrabbits scored three goals in the first 32 minutes of play, including the first two goals within two minutes of one another. Jenna Maloy scored her fifth goal of the season in the match, the second-most in the Summit League. Mia Bosch also picked up an assist on Maloy’s goal to give her a fifth assist of the year, which is also second in the League. In the loss to Utah State, goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart picked up 10 saves, the most saves in a match by a Jackrabbit goalkeeper since 2019. Benhart’s .800 save percentage is third in the League.
• In the national rankings, South Dakota State is first in assists per game (4.75), first in assists (38), third in points (96), fourth in points per game (12.0), tied for sixth in goal differential (21) and tied for seventh in goals per game (3.63).
• North Dakota defeated Florida Atlantic, 2-0, at home in its lone game of the week. Goalkeeper Thale Ruether recorded her first shutout as a Fighting Hawk.  
• North Dakota State also hosted FAU for its lone game of the week, drawing the Owls 1-1. The Bison scored in the 90th minute after Amaya Garrett outpaced the defense for the game-tying goal with just 54 seconds on the clock. NDSU’s unbeaten streak is now up to six, the new longest active streak in the Summit League.
• Omaha hosted Drake to a 1-1 draw for the Mavericks’ lone game last week. Senior defender Jasmyn Brown connected on a perfect diving header for Omaha’s goal. Goalkeeper Cadence Fagan collected six saves in the match and only allowed seven goals on the season so far, good for a tie for third in the Summit League.
• For the final games before League play begins next week, Creighton heads to Omaha on Wednesday night, St. Thomas travels to Lindenwood Thursday morning, Kansas City hosts Little Rock Saturday and North Dakota welcomes North Dakota State College of Science on Sunday.
 
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