BROOKINGS, S.D. – Kaitlin Justice scored the lone goal of the match with just under three minutes remaining in the second overtime, lifting the South Dakota State University women’s soccer team over Western Illinois in the first Summit League semifinal Friday afternoon at Fishback Soccer Park.

With the 1-0 victory, the top-seeded Jackrabbits move on to face the winner of Friday night’s other semifinal between second-seeded IUPUI and No. 3 North Dakota State in the championship match at noon Sunday. SDSU, which won for the sixth straight time to improve to 11-6-2 overall, is the defending Summit League champion.

Western Illinois ended its season with an 8-8-2 mark.

SDSU couldn’t capitalize on several scoring chances in the first half, despite out-shooting the Fighting Leathernecks, 11-3. WIU goalkeeper Laura Atkinson made six of her eight saves in the first half.

The Jackrabbits nearly won the match in the first minute of the first overtime, but a shot by Kayla Braffet sailed just over the crossbar.

SDSU ended the deadlock with 2 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the second overtime as Justice, a junior from Omaha, Neb., took a cross from freshman Christa Nyblom and booted the ball into the center of the net for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.

The Jackrabbits finished with a 29-9 advantage in shots, including six by Justice and five each by Braffet and Emily Quigley. Sophomore goalkeeper Brie Rogers made three saves for SDSU.

Alison Smyth recorded a team-high two shots for Western Illinois.
*Courtesy: SDSU Sports Information