Washington State’s first road trip of the season ended in a 3-0 loss at South Dakota State on Thursday night, with the Jackrabbits doing their damage early and late at Fishback Soccer Park in Brookings, S.D.
The Cougars were chasing from the 14th minute after South Dakota State won a coach-initiated video review and turned it into a penalty kick. Washington State goalkeeper Sidney Venier dove the wrong way as the shot slipped past her, and for a long stretch that goal was the only one either team had managed. Through the opening 30 minutes, there was just one shot in the match.
Washington State had a chance to answer in the 31st minute when head coach Chris Citowicki used a coach’s challenge on a tackle at the top of the box and earned a penalty of its own. Maycen Slater took the kick, but her hard effort missed wide right by about a foot. Less than a minute later, South Dakota State made the Cougars pay.
After WSU cleared its defensive third, the ball only reached the Jackrabbits’ midfield. Lauren Eckerle needed just one touch before launching a shot from 30 yards out that bent back toward the near post, climbed up to hit the underside of the crossbar, and dropped in over Venier.
“We started fine and it was playing out as an even game,” Coach Citowicki said postgame. “We responded well to their penalty kick and earned one of our own. That was the momentum swing - we miss ours and they score a great goal a few minutes later.”
Washington State finished with seven shots and only two on target, a sign of how hard it was to find space in the attacking third. Junior Emma Widmor finally put the Cougars’ first shot on goal just under 10 minutes into the second half, and Delanie Corcoran followed with another on-target attempt in the 65th minute.
Citowicki said the halftime adjustments did create some chances, but not enough to change the game.
“Halftime adjustments created some looks, but at the end of the day, it was not enough,” Citowicki said. “There is a reason they have only lost three games at home in the past three years.”
South Dakota State added its third goal in the 88th minute as Washington State pushed numbers forward.
The Cougars now turn to North Dakota State, where they’ll play Sunday, August 23. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
PT (1 p.m. CT), with coverage on the Summit League Network.
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