SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University soccer team hits the road for a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matches this weekend. The Yellow Jackets will play at Westminster College on Friday, September 27, before taking on Dixie State University on Sunday, September 29. The Green and Gold look to remain unbeaten in conference play.

Scouting the Griffins (3-0-2, 0-0-1 RMAC)

Westminster College, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, has begun the season unbeaten. Most recently, the Griffins opened the RMAC schedule with a 1-1 tie at Dixie State. They outshot the Trailblazers 18-9 in the game, but after a DSU goal in the 53rd minute and a WC goal in the 67th minute, neither team could break through and the teams would share the points.

The Griffins are scoring 1.2 goals per game while allowing just .40 goals per game, which is the best mark in the conference. Brynnae Braun and Bella Riche are tied for the team lead with two goals each, while Sara Weixler and Sarah Reiber each have a goal and an assist. Hillary Weixler has made three starts in goal, allowing one goal and making eight saves for a .31 goals against average, which sits first in the RMAC. Preslee Sudbury has played 200 minutes in net, making four saves while allowing one goal. Her .45 goals against average is second in the conference.

Scouting the Trailblazers (2-1-2, 0-0-1 RMAC)

Dixie State University is located in St. George, Utah. The Trailblazers have tied their last two matches, including a 1-1 draw with Westminster to open the RMAC slate of games. They scored first in the game against the Griffins, and then held on for a tie.

DSU are scoring 2.2 goals per game while allowing 1.4 goals per game. Whitley Johns has two goals to lead the squad, while eight other players have tallied a goal. Johns and Kelsey Cook each have recorded two assists to lead the Trailblazers. Chandler Greenwood (2-1-1) has played the majority of minutes in goal for DSU. She has allowed six goals in 443 minutes while making 18 saves. She has a 1.22 goals against average and .750 save percentage.

Scouting the Yellow Jackets (1-4-1, 1-0-1 RMAC)

BHSU began the 2019 RMAC schedule unbeaten, drawing with Fort Lewis, 0-0, and defeating Adams State, 1-0. Neither team was able to break through on Friday through 100 minutes. On Sunday, Katie Nielson scored in the 84th minute to secure the first conference win for the Yellow Jackets since 2017.

Katie Nielson leads the squad with three goals, while Cait Kelly has also found the net once. Nielson's six  points put her tied for ninth most in the RMAC while her three goals are tied for fourth most in the conference. Rose Miller has two assists to lead BHSU. Ella Goodman has also chipped in an assist.

Dz-Rae Jara is 1-1-1, making 25 saves in 270 minutes. She has allowed two goals with a .926 save percentage, which is best in the RMAC. Her .49 goals against average is third in the league, while she is first in shutouts with two.

Athlete of the Week

Dz-Rae Jara was named the RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week on September 24. She was honored after played 190 minutes in goal, making 12 saves and recording two shutouts against Fort Lewis (Sept. 20) and Adams State (Sept. 22).

Up Next

Following this weekend, the Green and Gold return home to host Western Colorado and Colorado Mesa. The Yellow Jackets will welcome the Mountaineers on October 4 at 7 p.m., before playing the Mavericks on October 6 with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

###

Black Hills State is located in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota, sponsoring 13 NCAA sports with membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the NCAA emerging sport of women's triathlon and NIRA rodeo. For all information regarding Yellow Jacket Athletics, please visit BHSUAthletics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @BHSUAthletics.

---BHSUAthletics.com---