FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota State soccer team will wrap up the regular season on Friday and Sunday, welcoming in South Dakota and South Dakota State for a pair of pivotal Summit League match ups as several places in the upcoming Summit League Tournament are up for grabs. The Bison will welcome in South Dakota on Friday for a 6 p.m. kick at Dacotah Field. NDSU will close out the home schedule on Sunday at 1 p.m. against South Dakota State,
 
Game Coverage
Sunday's game will be televised live on WDAY Xtra, while both games will be streamed live online. Both games will also have live statistics. Links for coverage will be available on GoBison.com.
 
The Series (USD)
This is the 20th meeting between North Dakota State and South Dakota, dating back to a 4-1 win for NDSU in the first-ever meeting in September of 1999 in Vermillion. The Bison hold an 13-5-1 record all-time against the Coyotes, including n 8-5-1 mark in the Summit League era after nearly a 7-year hiatus while the teams competed in different divisions of the NCAA. The Bison hold an 8-1 advantage over South Dakota in Fargo, including wins in the last four meetings. However, the Bison have dropped the last three meetings, all in Vermillion, 0-3, 0-3 and 0-5.
 
Last Year (USD)
South Dakota's Jordan Centineo scored a hat trick to lead the way for the Coyotes, handing the Bison back-to-back losses in league play for the first time during the season, as South Dakota cruised to a 5-0 victory with four second half goals. Centineo gave the Coyotes the lead in the 31st minute and then scored less than two minutes into the second half to put USD up 2-0. The Coyotes would add another goal 90 seconds later before two more.
 
The Series (SDSU)
This is the 30th meeting between North Dakota State and South Dakota State, dating back to a 6-0 win for NDSU in the first-ever meeting in October of 2000 in Fargo. The Bison hold an 11-15-3 record all-time against the Jackrabbits, including a 7-14-2 mark in the Summit League era. The Bison hold a 7-4-0 advantage over South Dakota State in Fargo, but have dropped the last two games by one goal margins. Overall, the Jackrabbits have won the last four meetings and seven of the last nine overall.
 
Last Year (SDSU)
The Bison looked strong early but ultimately fell to South Dakota State 3-0. NDSU had the only shots on target in the opening 43 minutes of play. However, SDSU capitalized on a set piece less than two minutes before the break to take a lead as Marisa Schulz headed the Jackrabbits in front. SDSU would double their lead in the 61st minute on a goal from Maya Hansen before Cecilia Limongi scored in the 88th minute to cap the scoring.
 
Bison Pick Up Key Road Win at North Dakota
NDSU picked up a 2-0 victory over North Dakota on Sunday. Paige Goaley put the Bison in front in the 11th minute with the first Bison shot of the game. In the 61st minute, Olivia Lovick would draw a foul in the box to earn a penalty kick for the Bison. Lovick then stepped up scored her first collegiate penalty kick goal. Abby Wilkinson made eight saves for the seventh Bison shutout of the season.
 
A Goaley That Scores
Paige Goaley, who missed two seasons with a leg injury, has been a goal-scoring threat this year, leading the team with six goals. She jumped straight into the action, scoring 37 seconds into her official return against Tarleton. Goaley has added four goals in the last three weeks, jumping to the top of the Summit League in goals (4) and points (10) in league play.
 
Lovick Hits Scoresheet in Return to Starting Lineup
Olivia Lovick made a return to the starting lineup on Sunday at North Dakota and made the most of the opportunity, setting up the opening goal before earning a penalty and then tucking it away for her third goal of the season. Lovick now has 11 career goals and 27 points, both leading the active list at NDSU.
 
Wilkinson Grabs Second Peak Performer Award, Moves Up NDSU All-Time Lists
For the second time this season, Abby Wilkinson was named the Summit League's Defensive Peak Performer after she made eight saves in a cleansheet victory at North Dakota. With the shutout, Wilkinson moved into ninth on the all-time cleansheet list at NDSU with five. Wilson's eight saves also moved her past Renee Keller (77) on the all-time saves list and into sole possession of ninth with 85. She is sixth on the list in the Div. 1 era.
 
Constants in the Lineup
Senior Lavin Douglass and juniors Ashleigh Heely and Paige Goaley have started every game (17) for the Bison this season. Douglass and Heely have started the last 22 games overall, dating back to last season. Heely has also played every minute for NDSU in 2022, logging 1530 minutes at the center back position.
 
Experience on Backline
The Bison have produced seven cleansheets this season, with experience on the backline providing dividends in front of goal. The four main players on the backline (McKenna Strand, Kaitlyn Hanson, Ashleigh Heely, and Jess Hanley) have combined to play in 194 games with 145 starts and 12,820 minutes, with all over 3,000 career minutes.
 
Goaley, Wacek Finding Scoring Boots of Late
Junior Paige Goaley and sophomore Loretta Wacek have been on scoring form in the last two weeks. Goaley has scored four goals in her last five games, taking over the lead on the team in goals this season. Wacek, who has moved into the starting lineup in the last three weeks, has made the most of her opportunity, scoring twice in her last three games played.
 
Douglass Strikes Another Game Winner
Lavin Douglass has scored twice this season, with both coming in the final 10 minutes to put NDSU in front for good. Douglass capped a senior day victory over Drake with her first career game-winning goal in the 80th minute. At Kansas City, she won the ball in midfield and made a solo run before bending a shot into the top corner in the 84th minute.
 
Watson's Goals Leading to Wins
Olivia Watson has already doubled her goal total from her freshman season, scoring four in 2022. The sophomore's goals this year have carried more weight, with all four being the first goal of the game and three going on to serve as game winners. Watson's game winners have come against Utah Tech, Green Bay, and Western Illinois.
 
Kallio Scores, Moves Up Active Points List
Kelsey Kallio, who had just one goal entering 2022, snapped an 18-game goal less streak earlier this season with a second half goal against Utah Tech. The junior has now found herself on the scoresheet twice in the last month, scoring at Omaha before heading one in against Western Illinois. The active assist leader (8) now has four goals and 16 career points.
 
Scoring Four
With NDSU's 4-0 win over Western Illinois earlier this season, the Bison have hit four goals twice this season. It is the first time the Bison have hit four goals twice in a season since the 2018 season.
 
Four in a Half
NDSU's four goals in the second half against Western Illinois are the most goals in a half for the Bison since the 2016 season when they did it twice. The last time the Bison had four goals in a half against a Div. 1 opponent came against North Dakota in the first half on September 2, 2016, going on to win 4-1 in Grand Forks.
 
Cleansheets Piling Up
The Bison have scooped up seven cleansheets this season, including three in a row in September. NDSU had five cleansheets in the last two seasons. Seven cleansheets is a new season high in the Mike Regan era, breaking six in 2019.
 
Peak Performers of the Week
Abby Wilkinson and Ashleigh Heely have scooped up Summit League Peak Performer honors this season. Wilkinson has received the honor twice, after a career high 10 saves at Idaho and after an eight-save shutout at North Dakota. Heely picked up the honor after playing all 180 minutes on the back line in 1-0 shutout victories against Green Bay and Drake.
 
The Bison at Home
NDSU has a 46-26-5 record at Dacotah Field since moving from the Ellig Sports Complex at the start of the 2013 season. Heading into 2022, the Bison have had a .500 or better winning percentage at home in seven of the nine seasons.
 
Goaley Strikes NDSU's Fastest Goal
Paige Goaley scored 37 seconds into the opener against Tarleton, the fastest goal in NDSU's program history. The goal broke the previous record of 39 seconds held by Lisa Leach, set on October 18, 1997 at Minnesota State-Mankato. The Div. 1 era record was 52 seconds into a match by Britney Monteon against Fort Wayne on October 22, 2017.
 
NDSU Receives United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award
The Bison earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award over the summer, being recognized for their exemplary performance in the classroom during the 2021-22 academic year. To qualify for the award, a team must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher for the entire academic year. The Bison posted a 3.43 team GPA for 2021-22.
 
Picked Ninth in Summit League
North Dakota State was picked ninth in the Summit League preseason coaches' poll. The Bison received 17 points in the vote, slotting them one spot below where they finished the 2021 season. The Bison finished eighth last season after a 3-6-0 record with wins over Oral Roberts (picked 6th), St. Thomas (picked 8th) and North Dakota (picked 10th).
 
Lovick, Nead Named Summit League Players to Watch
Olivia Lovick and Alicia Nead were named Summit League Players to Watch in the league preseason release. Lovick, a forward, entered 2022 with eight career goals and three assists in two seasons. Nead, a midfielder, scored her first career goal in 2021, and also had an assist.
 
Team Captains
Senior Dani Stuber and junior Paige Goaley serve as the team captains. Stuber is in her fifth season with the Bison, while Goaley is in her fourth year. Both players are making their full returns in 2022 after missing considerable time with injuries.
 
Who's Back?
The Bison return seven starters from the 2021 squad, as well as 19 letter winners. Olivia Lovick is the top returning goal scorer, with eight career goals entering the season. Lavin Douglass and Jess Hanley also return with three goals each entering the year. Hanley, along with Kelsey Kallio, are the top returning assists leaders with six each heading into 2022. NDSU also returns two goalkeepers with considerable experience in Abby Wilkinson and Sofia Howe.
 
Head Coach Mike Regan
Mike Regan is in his fifth season as the helm of the Bison. Under Regan, NDSU has five All-Summit League selections, including four first team, as well as four Freshman Team/All-Newcomer Team selections and two All-Tournament picks.
 
Regan came to NDSU after two years as an assistant at Indiana. Prior to IU, he was an assistant at Drake for four seasons, where he was part of the 2015 Missouri Valley Conference championship team and MVC Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
Before Drake, Regan was the head coach for the North Iowa Area Community College men's team for five seasons, posting a record of 74-17-6 and being named the NJCAA/ICCAC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year three times.
 
Summit League Tournament
North Dakota State will be looking to make their first appearance in the Summit League Tournament since 2018. The Bison enter the week in the final qualifying spot and could clinch a place in the tournament with a win on Friday and other results going in their favor.