SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's soccer team looks to continue to build off the program's first-ever weekend sweep in RMAC play in hopes of adding to the current 2-game win streak when they visit UCCS and CSU Pueblo. Facing the Mountain Lions at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 18, at Mountain Lion Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and then the ThunderWolves at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 20, at Art and Lorraine Gonzales Stadium in Pueblo, Colorado, the Yellow Jackets will look to continue rewriting records as they look for their first-ever win against each opponent.
 
GAME 1 DETAILS AT UCCS
Date & Time: Friday, October 18 at 11 a.m.
Location: Colorado Springs, Colo. – Mountain Lion Stadium
 
GAME 2 DETAILS AT CSU PUEBLO
Date & Time: Sunday, October 20 at 11 a.m.
Location: Pueblo, Colo. – Art and Lorraine Gonzales Stadium
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters this weekend's RMAC games with a record of 2-6-4 (2-3-1 RMAC) following a pair of home wins over New Mexico Highlands (5-0) and Adams State (4-2) last weekend.
• The win over the Cowgirls marked the largest margin of victory in an RMAC contest for the Yellow Jackets. Additionally, with the win over the Grizzlies two days later secured their first-ever 2-game RMAC win streak while the four goals in the match made it the highest scoring 2-game RMAC stretch in program history.
• With six regular season RMAC games remaining the Yellow Jackets are currently tied for eighth in the conference standings.
• During the 2024 season BHSU has recorded 13 goals, 12 assists, 109 shots, 48 shots on goal, 19 corner kicks, and 72 saves. On the other hand, their opponents have notched 26 goals, 20 assists, 207 shots, 98 shots on goal, 78 corner kicks, and 35 saves.
• The Yellow Jackets currently rank second in the RMAC and are 41^st in NCAA Division II in saves per game (6.08).
• Leading the offensive attack for the Yellow Jackets is Paige Hill who has tallied 11 points on four goals and three assists, while Anacel Valenzuela-Acosta has added nine points with three goals and three assists, and Jayda Hammer has notched six points with three goals.
• Hill ranks fourth in the RMAC in both points and assists, and is fifth in goals, while Valenzuela-Acosta ranks fourth in the league in assists and eighth in points.
• Spearheaded by Allie Brown who has played in 67 matches while making 58 starts during her career, the Black Hills State back line has recorded three shutouts this season against Carroll, Minnesota Crookston, and New Mexico Highlands. The trio of clean sheets is the second most in a single season in program history and is only one shy of the school record mark of four set in 2023.
• While Brown has played a team-leading 1,068 minutes of action this year, other notable defenders include Ainsley Wilson and Bria Sargent who have recorded 1,019 and 651 minutes of playing time respectively thus far in 2024.
• Makayla Dannelly has been the primary goalkeeper this season for BHSU, playing and starting in nine contests where she has made 57 saves for a .760 save percentage and a 2.10 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 saves per game (6.33) and third in total saves, while also ranking 29^th and 38^th nationally in the categories.
• Other goalkeepers that have played in reserve include Allanah Facio who has played in four matches and made one start where she has recorded six saves and has been a part of two combined shutouts, while Zoe Wiggall has played in three matches and made two starts where she notched ten saves and was a part of one combined shutout.
• John Hutchison is in his second season as the head coach of the Yellow Jackets.

UCCS STORYLINES

• UCCS enters this weekend's RMAC games with a record of 3-6-2 (1-4 RMAC) following a split last weekend with a loss at home against (RV) MSU Denver (2-1) and a win on the road at Fort Lewis (1-0).
• The Mountain Lions are currently 11^th in the conference standings, having earned their first three points last Sunday afternoon, snapping a 4-game losing streak to begin league play.
• During the 2024 season UCCS has recorded 14 goals, seven assists, 152 shots, 68 shots on goal, 46 corner kicks, and 38 saves. On the other hand, their opponents have notched 21 goals, 14 assists, 108 shots, 59 shots on goal, 37 corner kicks, and 54 saves.
• Emily Aguilar leads the offensive attack for the Mountain Lions, posting seven points in nine games played with three goals and an assist. Luka Johnson, Taylynn Levi, and Brooke Pavlich have each found the back of the net twice this season.
• Freshman Malia Groshong spearheads the backline of the UCCS defense, notching a team-leading 909 minutes of playing time, while other notable defender is Elise Broberg, another freshman who has recorded 683 minutes of action.
• Alexa Malspina has been the top goalkeeper this season for the Mountain Lions, playing in and starting eight contests while securing 30 saves with a save percentage of .698 and a goals against average of 1.66. She has posted three shutouts this year, with clean sheets against St. Mary's, Tampa, and Fort Lewis.
• J.B. Belzer is in his fifth season as the head coach at UCCS.

SERIES HISTORY

• Friday will mark the ninth all-time meeting on the pitch between Black Hills State and UCCS, with the Mountain Lions leading the series 8-0.
• The Mountain Lions extended their win streak in the series to eight games last season on October 12, 2023, with a 5-0 victory over the Yellow Jackets at the Black Hills Energy Sports Complex in Spearfish.

CSU PUEBLO STORYLINES

• CSU Pueblo enters this weekend's RMAC games with a record of 2-6-3 (1-3-1 RMAC) following a home win over Colorado Christian (1-0) and a draw on the road at Western Colorado (1-1).
• Following a 3-game losing streak to begin conference play, the ThunderWolves picked up four points last weekend to move into tenth place in the RMAC standings.
• During the 2024 season CSUP has recorded nine goals, five assists, 99 shots, 49 shots on goal, 24 corner kicks, and 53 saves. On the other hand, their opponents have notched 21 goals, 15 assists, 150 shots, 74 shots on goal, 24 corner kicks, and 40 saves.
• Sydney Lasater leads the offensive attack for CSU Pueblo as she is the only player to find the back of the net multiple times with four goals and one assists for a point total of nine.
• Ariadna Membrives Lora spearheads the backline of the ThunderWolves defense, playing 851 minutes of game time this year, while other players to watch include Jerzie Troost and Sienna Gargano who have played 840 and 823 minutes respectively.
• Leading CSUP in goal is Elaina Leitner, who has played in nine games while making eight starts and recording 38 saves, a .667 save percentage, and a 2.35 goals against average. She holds one shutout with a clean sheet against Colorado Christian.
• John Constable is in his first season as the head coach at CSU Pueblo.

SERIES HISTORY

• Sunday will mark the eighth all-time meeting between Black Hills State and CSU Pueblo on the pitch, with the ThunderWolves holding a 7-0 lead in the series.
• CSUP extended their win streak to seven games in the series with a 7-0 win over the Yellow Jackets last season on October 15, 2023, at the Black Hills Energy Sports Complex.