NDSU Soccer Wins Pod with Victory Over SDSU

Sunday, November 1

Brookings, S.D.

1 p.m.

North Dakota State

7-6-6, 5-3-2

South Dakota State

10-5-3, 5-3-2

Team	1	2	Final F
North Dakota State	1	0	1
South Dakota State	0	0	0

NDSU Notes

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

11/1/2026 6:01:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Rylan Swenson

BROOKINGS, S.D. – North Dakota State soccer claimed a 1-0 victory over South Dakota State on Sunday afternoon in Brookings, earning the top spot in Pod A and a bye to the Summit League semi-finals in Tulsa in two weeks.

Gabrielle Garrett opened the match with her second goal of the season, giving the Bison an early 1-0 lead in the 22^nd minute. Ava Stanchina played a corner kick into the box off her right foot, where Garrett adjusted to the ball and headed it into the top left corner of the goal.

The Jackrabbits had a chance to tie the match in the 37^th minute after they were awarded a penalty kick due to a handball by the Bison. However, Brianna Finnegan's kick sailed wide left, preserving the Bison lead.

NDSU continued to control the pace of the match in the second half, nearly taking a two-goal lead when Morgan Russmann header was tipped just over the bar by SDSU goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart.

SDSU pushed to try and tie up the match after that, with Payton Mulberry making saves for the Bison in the 74^th and 81^st minutes. The Jackrabbits would manage just one more shot the rest of the way, as the Bison preserved their 1-0 victory.

Payton Mulberry recorded the 14^th clean sheet of her career in the win, surpassing Monica Morgan (13) and moving into sole possession of fifth place all-time in Bison history and fourth in the Division I era.

Sunday's victory was the first for the Bison in Brookings since 2006, when they also defeated the Jackrabbits 1-0 on October 4.

With the win, the Bison secured a first-place finish in Pod A and the second overall seed in the Summit League tournament. NDSU has this week off, and then travels to Tulsa for the semi-finals. The Bison will take on the winner of a quarterfinal match between Omaha and South Dakota. The game will be on Thursday, November 12 at 2 p.m.