SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's soccer team will carry a 2-match win streak into conference play on Friday afternoon, when they begin the RMAC slate at New Mexico Highlands on September 26. The Yellow Jackets also carry a stretch of three consecutive shutouts into the match, looking to win their first RMAC opener since 2023.
 
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Date/Time/Location: Friday, September 26 / 4 p.m. / Las Vegas, N.M.
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 STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters the contest with a record of 3-1-2 their first-ever win over Montana State Billings last Saturday, defeating the Yellowjackets 1-0 at home to match the school single-season record for wins.
• The win over MSUB helped BHSU improve to 2-0 at home for the first time in program history after they defeated Dakota State earlier in the week for their first-ever home opening victory as well.
• The 2025 season 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 on opening weekend 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
• After being in the hunt to make the conference tournament last season, the Yellow Jackets have been picked to finish 11^th in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Through six games this season Black Hills State has recorded nine goals, ten assists, 28 points, 118 shots, 42 shots on goal, 34 corner kicks and 22 saves, while on the other hand their opponents have notched two goals, one assist, five points, 45 shots, 24 shots on goal, 21 corner kicks, and 33 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 has already forced four shutouts, matching the school single-season record, as they have held opponents to just 7.5 shot attempts and 4.0 shots-on-goal per game.
• Eight 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), Leah Day (1), and Kayla Truong.
• Additionally, seven different players have notched an assist this season for the Green & Gold, including Aubri Roth, Cornelius, and Hill 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.
• Through six matches, 2024 Honorable Mention All-RMAC selection, Ainsley Wilson leads the team with 531 minutes played on the field, while Bria Sargent has also played 509 minutes on the back line of the defense.
• Rian Barthel has made four starts in goal, while Karsyn Fraser-Slothower has made two, each playing the entirety of their matches. Barthel has tied the school single-season record of three shutouts on the year, which includes becoming the first freshman to post a shutout in a season opener in program history. She holds a 0.944 save percentage and a 0.25 goals-against average with 17 saves. Fraser-Slothower kept Northwestern Oklahoma State off the scoreboard for the first time this season as she has tallied an 0.833 save percentage and a 0.50 goals-against average with five saves.
• John Hutchison is in his third season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding the Yellow Jackets to a record of 9-24-8. Overall, 2025 is his seventh season as a collegiate women's soccer head coach with a career mark of 20-67-16 after spending four prior seasons at Presentation College.

NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS STORYLINES

• New Mexico Highlands enters the RMAC opener with a record of 1-3 following a 2-0 loss at Northwestern Oklahoma State last Saturday.
• After going 2-14-2 (0-11-1 RMAC) to finish fifth 13^th in the conference in 2024, the Cowgirls were picked to finish 13^th in the league's preseason coaches' poll.
• Through four games NMHU has recorded two goals, one assist, five points, 38 shots, 18 shots-on-goal, five corner kicks, and 18 saves, while on the other hand their opponents have notched 11 goals, eight assists, 30 points, 65 shots, 29 shots-on-goal, 21 corner kicks, and 16 saves.
• Offensively, the Cowgirls two goals have been scored by Ninon Rigal and Lina Villanueva, and their one assist came from Mia Roybal.
• Anchoring the backline of the defense is Vivi Munoz, Villanueva, and Maelle Vandoolaeghe, who have played 309, 308, and 291 minutes respectively this year.
• The primary goalkeeper for the Cowgirls is Hylee Driscoll, who has played in three matches and has made two starts. She leads the team with 14 saves, recording a 0.667 save percentage and a 3.38 goals-against average. She has one combined shutout with Marie-France Foguenne and Peyton Greener.
• Amanda Evans is in her second season as the head coach at New Mexico Highlands, recording a record of 3-17-2 with the Cowgirls. Additionally, it is her ninth season overall as a collegiate women's soccer head coach, posting an overall record of 48-83-10 after spending five years at Mary Baldwin and Northland.

SERIES HISTORY

• Friday afternoon will mark the ninth all-time meeting between Black Hills State and New Mexico Highlands, with the Cowgirls holding the narrow 4-3-1 lead in the series.
• The Yellow Jackets earned their largest margin of victory in an RMAC contest last year against the Cowgirls, defeating NMHU 5-0 on October 11, 2024, at the Black Hills Power Sports Complex.