Black Hills State women's soccer wrapped up its 2021 season earlier this year with an overall record of 3-11-1, and a 2-9-1 RMAC record.

The 2021 season was year one for Head Coach Andrew Conniff leading the Yellow Jackets, a relatively new program that began in 2016. In his first season, Conniff's team made progress in several areas and matched a program-best 3 wins.

2021 Season Quick Stats: 
• BHSU had 13 goals on the season from 118 shots with 50 shots on goal
• The Yellow Jackets averaged 7.9 shots and 0.87 goals per game
• Team totaled 10 assists
• BHSU grabbed 111 saves on the year while allowing 33 goals

The Goals:
Emma Avery scored the team's first goal of the season in a three-goal performance against Minnesota State-Moorhead (9/11). Lexi Crow also scored in that game, finding the net in the first half before Avery put up her other two goals of the match in the second half.

Avery struck again in the following game against Colorado Christian (9/24), opening RMAC play, scoring the match's only goal for the team's second straight victory, and her fourth goal of the year.

The next week against Regis (10/3), Hayle Scruggs scored her first of the season as the team fell 2-1. In BHSU's following game at CSU Pueblo (10/8), Alexa Buckley scored what was her first of the year in the 49th minute of a 3-1 loss.

Avery would score her fifth of the year to open the scoring of a 2-2 draw with Adams State (10/15). Madison Kandler would also score in that game for her first goal of the season.

The Yellow Jackets had four different scorers in their final win of the season, a 4-3 victory over New Mexico Highlands (10/17).

Buckley and Crow each scored their second goal of the season before Darby Whiteley scored her first to give the team a 3-0 halftime lead. Taylor Hernandez booted in the game-winner in the 72nd minute of that game.

First Win of the Season 
The Yellow Jackets won in resounding fashion with a 4-1 victory over MSU-Moorhead on Sept. 11 for their first win of the year

Last Win of the Season
BHSU's final of three wins on the season came on Oct. 17 over New Mexico Highlands, a game in which they also scored four goals, winning 4-3.

The Record Book:
Single-Game Records
Emma Avery scored a career-best three goals in a single game this season against MSU-Moorhead, now sharing the BHSU record for goals in a game with current teammate Mikayla Hernandez who accomplished the feat at UMary on Sept. 6, 2018.

Single-Season Records
Avery also tied the record for most goals in a season, finding the net five times in 2021 to tie the mark that was set in 2016, and again in 2019 by Katie Nielson. Avery's 15 shots on goal this year ranks second all-time behind Nielson's 16 in the 2016 season.

Goalkeeper Makayla Dannelly had one of the best seasons a Yellow Jacket has had between the pipes. She finished her freshman season with the best goals against average (2.16) and save percentage (.782) in a season, while recording the second-most saves in a season with 97.

Career Records
Graduating seniors Ella Goodman and Mikayla Hernandez both finished their BHSU careers on the top-5 list in career goals scored, points, shots and shots on goal.

Goodman finishes tied for fourth in career goals with four, fourth in points (13), fourth in shots (42) and third in shots on goal (23).

Hernandez is second all-time in career goals with seven, second in points (18), third in shots (46) and fourth in shots on goal (21).

Avery's five goals this year shot her up the list to third in career goals, and fifth in points (10). She also entered the top-10 in career shots with 29, and career shots on goal with 15.

Senior Gabbi Nowodworski also entered the top-10 with her 13 career shots on goal and six assists in her time as a Yellow Jacket.