SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's soccer team will kick-off the 2024 season in a neutral site battle on Thursday afternoon as they face Carroll College in the opening game of the Rimrock Classic. The Yellow Jackets will look to carry momentum into year two of the Hutchison Era, as an experience group of returners mixed with a talent-packed group of newcomers look to make it two consecutive years with a season opening victory.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Thursday, September 5 at 4 p.m.
Location: Billings, Mont. – Yellowjacket Soccer Field
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State posted a 3-12-2 (1-9-2 RMAC) record in 2023, finishing 12^th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with five points accumulated in league play.
• The Green & Gold continued to trend upwards last year, as they matched a program record of three wins in a season and set a new program record for winning percentage (.235). BHSU previously reached the three-win mark during the 2021 and 2019 seasons.
• A year ago, the Yellow Jackets opened the season with the best start in program history, cruising to a 2-0 start with victories over Dakota Wesleyan and Mount Marty where they held a combined 11-0 advantage over the Tigers and Lancers.
• BHSU looks to win their second consecutive season opener and improve upon a 1-6-1 mark all-time in the first game of a season.
• Announced on Wednesday, August 28, the Yellow Jackets were voted 12^th in the 2024 RMAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• This weekend will be the seventh appearance all-time for the Yellow Jackets in the Rimrock Classic, hosted by MSU Billings. BHSU has posted a 1-11 record in the tournament, with their lone win in the tournament being a 4-1 victory over MSU Moorhead on September 11, 2021.
• In 2023 Black Hills State recorded 16 goals, 12 assists, 133 shots, 79 shots on goal, 38 corner kicks, and 75 saves, while their opponents notched 40 goals, 30 assists, 133 shots, 115 shots on goal, 79 corner kicks, and 63 saves.
• The BHSU offense returns their top-5 points leaders from a year ago, including Jayda Hammer, Hailey Warren, Kayla Osegueda, Audrey Sillanpaa, and Katy Vinton.
• Hammer led the Green & Gold in both goals (4) and points (8) last season while Warren, Osegueda, and Sillanpaa each found the back of the net on two occasions a year ago.
• Warren was the Yellow Jackets assist leader in 2023, tallying three to pair with her two goals for seven points on the year. Additionally, Osegueda and Vinton return having both assisted on a pair of goals last season as well.
• The backline defense of Black Hills State also returns a considerable amount of experience as Allie Brown and Makaiah Carlson are back after starting all 16 contests in 2023 while Rylee Barnes appeared in 15 matches. The trio was a part of a defense that posted four shutouts and allowed one or fewer goals on six occasions.
• Makayla Dannelly returns in goal after starting and appearing in seven games a year ago where she made 30 saves and allowed only six goals for a 0.86 goals against average. She recorded three shutouts last season, which all resulted in a BHSU victory.
• A strong contingent of talented newcomers will look to make their presence known early this season as the newcomers are highlighted by Bailey Smith who was the 2024 KHSAA Midfielder of the Year in Class 4-1A and Anacel Valenzuela-Acosta who was a NJCAA First Team All-American and a 2-time NJCAA Division II National Champion.
• John Hutchison enters his second season as the head coach of the Yellow Jackets. 

(RV) CARROLL STORYLINES

• Carroll enters Thursday's match-up with a record of 2-0-1 on the season already, picking up victories over the University of Lethbridge (6-0) and Indiana Tech (2-1), while also playing to a 1-1- draw against (RV) Taylor.
• The Saints enter the 2024 season receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll and were picked to finish third in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Preseason Coaches' Poll. In 2023 CC held an 11-2-4 (8-1-3 CCC) mark that was good enough for second in the league standings.
• Carroll brings back a wealth of experience from 2023, returning a trio of All-CCC First Team honorees which include Emily Funseth, Maria Ackerman, and Avery Lambourne.
• Delaney Moczan and Ackerman were recognized as the Cascade Collegiate Conference's offensive and defensive players of the week respectively on August 26
• Moczan has led the Saints offense during the early portion of the season, posting four goals with a pair of multi-goal performances that led to victories.
• Additionally, Ackerman was named the NAIA Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week after tallying 22 saves and allowing just two goals for a 0.67 goals against average in three contests.
• In 2024 Carroll has recorded nine goals, five assists, 71 shots, 37 shots on goal, 20 corner kicks, and 22 saves, while their opponents have notched two goals, two assists, 37 shots, 24 shots on goal, 11 corner kicks, and 28 saves.
• Other notable players thus far during the 2024 season include Jaymee Sheridan who has added a pair of goals and Ella Kuenzli who has assisted on two goals.
• David Thorvilson enters his 18^th season as the head coach at Carroll, guiding the Saints to a career record of 182-88-41 along with eight conference titles. 

SERIES HISTORY

• Thursday will mark the third all-time meeting between Black Hills State and Carroll, as the Saints enter the match-up with a 2-0 lead in the series with both prior meetings taking place in the Rimrock Classic.
• Both meetings in the series history have resulted in a 1-0 outcome as CC took the September 7, 2023, meeting with a goal in the 30^th minute and the September 14, 2019, meeting with a goal in the 29^th minute.