Date/Time/Location: Saturday, September 20 / 1 p.m. / Spearfish, S.D. / Black Hills Power Sports Complex

RMAC Network: Beginning in the 2025-26 season the RMAC Network will now move to Pay-Per-View. Fans can purchase a single game pass ($10), monthly ($25) or annual subscription ($130). Individuals with bhsu.edu or yellowjackets.bhsu.edu email address can still take advantage of the Peak Pricing Promotion by using the code Y26-RMACEDU.

• Black Hills State enters the contest with a record of 2-1-2 their first-ever win in a home opener, as they defeated in-state foe Dakota State 4-0.
• The 2025 opening weekend was just the second time in program history in which the Green & Gold finished undefeated, drawing at MSU Moorhead (0-0) and defeating Minnesota Crookston (4-1). In 2023 they also went unbeaten on opening weekend, defeating Dakota Wesleyan (6-0) and Mount Marty (5-0). 
• The Yellow Jackets five assists against the Golden Eagles matched the program single game record which was set last fall against New Mexico Highlands.
• BHSU has scored four goals twice this season, each time with four different players
• The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 3-11-4 (3-8-1 RMAC) season in 2024, finishing 11th in the league standings with ten points.
• After being in the hunt to make the conference tournament last season, the Yellow Jackets have been picked to finish 11th in the RMAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
• Through five games this season Black Hills State has recorded eight goals, eight assists, 24 points, 90 shots, 31 shots on goal, 24 corner kicks and 14 saves, while on the other hand their opponents have notched two goals, one assist, five points, 32 shots, 16 shots on goal, 14 corner kicks, and 23 saves.
• In 2024 the Yellow Jackets broke the school single-season record for points (51), goals (18), and assists (15).
• This year the BHSU defense have already forced three shutouts, matching last year’s total, as they have held opponents to just 6.4 shot attempts and 3.2 shots-on-goal per game.
• Black Hills State returns seven players who scored a year ago, including Katy Vinton and Jayda Hammer who each found the back of the net three times. Additionally, Vinton led the team in assists with three and totaled nine points on the year.
• Seven different players scored a goal for the Yellow Jackets this season, including Peyton Hill (2), Ella Cornelius (1), Ally Boysen (1), Audrey Sillanpaa (1), Whitney Hansen (1), Jayda Hammer (1), and Leah Day (1).
• Additionally, six different players notched an assist this season for the Green & Gold, including Aubri Roth and Cornelius who lead the team with two apiece.
• Cornelius and Hill each recorded both a goal and an assist against UMC, while Day notched a goal and an assist against DSU. After happening only once prior to head coach John Hutchison’s arrival, the match against the Golden Eagles marked the fourth time under his watch that multiple players have recorded both a goal and assist in the same match.
• Defensively Ainsley Wilson will lead the back line of defense, coming off an Honorable Mention All-RMAC season in 2024. She started all 18 games, tallying 1,553 minutes of action, and helped the team post three shutouts. The three shutouts were the second most in a single season in program history. The Green & Gold also return Bria Sargent and Rylee Barnes, who appeared in 18 and 17 games respectively as defenders.
• Through five matches, Wilson leads the team with 442 minutes played on the field, while Sargent has also played 419 minutes on the back line of the defense.
• In goal, the Yellow Jackets only return one keeper, Zoe Wiggall who made four appearances, recorded 12 saves and was a part of one combined shutout. BHSU also brings in two newcomers at the position, including Karsyn Fraser-Slothower, who left Hutchinson Community College as the career saves leader, and Rian Barthel, who was a 4-time all-state selection in Wyoming.
• Barthel has made three starts in goal, while Fraser-Slothower has made two, each playing the entirety of their matches. Barthel has notched a pair of shutouts on the season, which includes becoming the first freshman to post a shutout in a season opener in program history, as she holds a 0.909 save percentage and a 0.33 goals-against average. Fraser-Slothower kept Northwestern Oklahoma State off the scoreboard for the first time this season as she has tallied a 0.833 save percentage and a 0.50 goals-against average. Barthel has made ten saves and Fraser-Slothower five on the season.
• John Hutchison is in his third season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding the Yellow Jackets to a record of 8-24-8. Overall, 2025 is his seventh season as a collegiate head coach with a career mark of 19-67-16 after spending four prior seasons at Presentation College.

• Montana State Billings enters the match-up with a record of 1-2-0 on the season following a 2-1 win in their home opener against Minot State last Saturday.
• After going 6-8-4 (3-7-4 GNAC) to finish fifth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2024, the Yellowjackets were picked to finish sixth in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll.
• Through three games MSUB has recorded two goals, one assist, five points, 14 shots, six shots-on-goal, five corner kicks, and 16 saves, while on the other hand their opponents have notched eight goals, five assists, 21 points, 56 shots, 24 shots-on-goal, 15 corner kicks, and four saves.
• Offensively, the two goals for the Yellowjackets have been scored by Kambryn Smith and Cesia Swain, while the lone assist of the season came from Nyah Attaway.
• Anchoring the backline of the defense is Ava Curtright, as the sophomore has played all 270 minutes thus far in 2025.
• MSUB has split time in goal this season, as Natalie Weinmast has appeared in all three matches, making two starts, as she has recorded a 0.615 save percentage, a 2.50 goals-against average, and has made eight saves. Appearing in two matches and getting the start in the Yellowjackets’ win last weekend was Emma Powell, who has a 0.700 save percentage, a 3.00 goals-against average, and has made seven saves.
• Abiye Jack is in his third season as the head coach at Montana State Billings, guiding the Yellowjackets to a 12-19-7 mark during his tenure.

• Saturday afternoon marks the sixth meeting all-time between Black Hills State and Montana State Billings in women’s soccer, with MSUB holding the advantage 4-0-1.
• MSUB won the last match-up on September 11, 2024, at the Black Hills Power Sports Complex, defeating BHSU 5-0 in their home opener.