SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Back Hills State University women's soccer team remains at home for the second consecutive weekend as they conclude their 4-game homestand with matches against New Mexico Highlands and Adams State. The Yellow Jackets and Cowgirls are slated for a 7 p.m. kick-off on Friday night at the Black Hills Power Sports Complex, while BHSU and ASU will play an 11 a.m. match on Sunday as the three teams battle it out for a potential big points weekend to make a climb up the conference standings. Prior to Black Hills State's Friday night contest at 6:20 p.m., the Yellow Jackets will recognize six graduating seniors, which include Hailey Warren, Paige Hill, Kayla Osegueda, Makayla Dannelly, Makayla Selensky, and Allie Brown, for their time and dedication to the program.
 
GAME 1 DETAILS VS. NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
Date & Time: Friday, October 11 at 7 p.m.
Location: Spearfish, S.D. - Black Hills Power Sports Complex
 
GAME 2 DETAILS VS. ADAMS STATE
Date & Time: Sunday, October 13 at 11 a.m.
Location: Spearfish, S.D. - Black Hills Power Sports Complex
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters this weekend's RMAC games with a record of 0-6-4 (0-3-1 RMAC) following a draw with No. 1 Colorado School of Mines (1-1) and a loss to Colorado Mesa (2-0) last weekend.
• The draw with the Orediggers was the Yellow Jackets first-ever win or draw against a nationally ranked opponent, and also snapped an 8-game winning streak for CSM to open the year. The Orediggers had only been held to their season-low of one goal on one other occasion prior in the year.
• During the 2024 season BHSU has recorded four goals, three assists, 79 shots, 34 shots on goal, 13 corner kicks, and 61 saves. On the other hand, their opponents have notched 24 goals, 18 assists, 180 shots, 85 shots on goal, 73 corner kicks, and 30 saves.
• The Yellow Jackets currently rank second in the RMAC and are 37^th in NCAA Division II in saves per game.
• Leading the offensive attack for the Yellow Jackets is Jayda Hammer and Anacel Valenzuela-Acosta who have each tallied four points this year. Hammer leads the team with a pair of goals while Valenzuela-Acosta leads the team with a pair of assists to go along with one goal. Additionally, Paige Hill has recorded one goal and one assist for three points this season.
• Spearheaded by Allie Brown who has played in 65 matches while making 56 starts during her career, the Black Hills State back line has recorded two shutouts this season against Carroll and Minnesota Crookston. The pair of clean sheets is already tied for the second most in a single season in program history, matching 2019 and is only two shy of the school record mark of four set in 2023.
• While Brown has played a team-leading 888 minutes of action this year, other notable defenders include Ainsley Wilson and Bria Sargent who have recorded 847 and 545 minutes of playing time respectively thus far in 2024.
• Makayla Dannelly has been the primary goalkeeper this season for BHSU, playing and starting in eight contests where she has made 54 saves for a .750 save percentage and a 2.29 goals against average. She has posted one shutout during the season, holding Carroll scoreless in the season opener. Dannelly ranks second in the RMAC in both total saves and saves per game, while also ranking 20^th and 23^rd nationally respectively.
• John Hutchison is in his second season as the head coach of the Yellow Jackets.

NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS STORYLINES

• New Mexico Highlands enters this weekend's RMAC games with a record of 2-6-2 (0-3-1 RMAC) following a loss to Fort Lewis (3-0) and a draw with Western Colorado (1-1) at home last weekend.
• The Cowgirls opened the season with a 1-0 win over Sul Ross State, snapping a 21-game winless streak that dated back to 2022.
• During the 2024 season NMHU has recorded seven goals, six assists, 95 shots, 56 shots on goal, 36 corner kicks, and 55 saves. On the other hand, their opponents have notched 26 goals, 21 assists, 150 shots, 81 shots on goal, 40 corner kicks, and 49 saves.
• Kate Rayner and Acacia Rodriguez lead the Cowgirl attack offensively as they've tallied four points with two goals apiece. Six different players have notched an assist this season.
• Devyn Gunn spearheads the backline of the New Mexico Highlands defense as she is one of just three players to start all ten matches this year. She leads the team with 868 minutes played. Additionally, another defender to watch includes Emily Jimenez who has played and started in nine matches, totaling 753 minutes of playing time.
• Peyton Greener has been the primary goalkeeper for the Cowgirls, making eight starts in nine appearances. She has recorded 42 saves on the year and notched one shutout.
• Amanda Evans is in her second season as the head coach at New Mexico Highlands.

SERIES HISTORY

• Friday will mark the eighth all-time meeting on the pitch between Black Hills State and New Mexico Highlands, with the Cowgirls leading the series 4-2-1.
• BHSU and NMHU battled to a 2-2 draw in their last meeting on October 6, 2023, in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

ADAMS STATE STORYLINES

• Adams State enters this weekend's RMAC games with a record of 2-6-1 (0-4 RMAC) following a pair of home losses to Western Colorado (2-1) and Fort Lewis (3-0) last weekend.
• During the 2024 season ASU has recorded seven goals, four assists, 101 shots, 40 shots on goal, 28 corner kicks, and 20 saves. On the other hand, their opponents have notched 12 goals, 12 assists, 71 shots, 32 shots on goal, 34 corner kicks, and 33 saves.
• Karlee Caballero leads the offensive attack for the Grizzlies, posting four goals and an assist for nine points.
• Emily Ibsen spearheads the backline of the Adams State defense, appearing in and starting all nine matches this year with a team-leading 733 minutes played. Other defenders to keep an eye on include Molly Lancaster and Sophia Tice who have played 579 and 548 minutes respectively.
• In goal for the Grizzlies is Ashlyn Bartley who has appeared in eight contests while making seven starts. She has made 18 saves with a .600 save percentage and a 1.61 goals against average.
• Alex Greco is in his third season as the head coach at Adams State.

SERIES HISTORY

• Sunday will mark the eighth all-time meeting between Black Hills State and Adams State on the pitch, with the Grizzlies holding a 4-1-2 lead in the series.
• BHSU and ASU battled to a scoreless draw in their last meeting on October 8, 2023, in Alamosa, Colorado.