SPEARFISH, S.D. - The Black Hills State University women's soccer team bounced back following their first defeat of the season, and notched what has been their third first-ever victory over an opponent this year, downing Colorado Mesa by a 2-1 decision on Sunday at the Black Hills Power Sports Complex. Finding themselves trailing after the opening minutes of the contest for the second consecutive match, the Yellow Jackets battled back and completed the come back for a statement win in what has continued to be a historic 2026 season. Fueled by Ivy Agee's fourth multi-goal game of the season, both in the second half, the Green & Gold moved into sole possession of second place in the league standings and notched a resume building win in a battle of two top-6 ranked programs in the IWSOC Coaches' South Central Region poll. Additionally, Black Hills State added to their list of records with a school record fourth RMAC win on the year.
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 2, Colorado Mesa 1
Team Records: Black Hills State 7-1-3 (4-1-1 RMAC), Colorado Mesa 6-3-1 (4-1-0 RMAC)
Attendance: 192
HOW IT HAPPENED
- For the second consecutive match, it was the visitors who struck first in the opening minutes, as Colorado Mesa capitalized on their lone shot on goal of the half. The Mavericks found the back of the net as Sarah Dunn sent a free kick from just past midfield into the box, and Parker Mairs collected the ball off the bounce to fire a shot into the left corner from five yards out in the 6th minute.
- CMU managed to hold a 7-5 advantage in shot attempts after the first 45 minutes, but were unable to place another on target, while the Yellow Jackets placed two on frame. The first shot on target for BHSU came just moments after the Mavericks took the lead as Mirabel Shellabarger tracked down the ball into the right side of the box and placed a low, rolling shot towards the right side of the net that was scooped up by Keely Wieczorek in the 10th minute. Then in the 27th minute Ivy Agee took a pass from Ally Boysen and looked to outrun the back line of the Mavericks before firing a shot from the top of the box that Wieczorek made a diving save on in the middle of the goal.
- Rian Barthel fended off a pair of shot attempts from Angelina Kazinec in the opening minute of the second half, the 46th minute, making a diving deflection in the center of the net as Kazinec sent in a header off a free kick from Dunn, and then she recovered to jump up and make a leaping grab in the upper right corner of the net as the ball found its way back to Kazinec who sent in another header.
- A few minutes later came the equalizer on a pretty display of passing by the Yellow Jacket offensive attack as Mirabel Shellabarger split a pair of Maverick defenders with her pass to Boysen and Holly Benson who tallied assists on the play, as the string of passes then worked its way from Benson to Agee at the top of the box who fired a left-footed shot into the upper right corner of the net in the 53rd minute to tie the game at one.
- Agee continued to put the pressure on Colorado Mesa defense with a pair of shots on goal in the 66th minute, first with a strong shot attempt from the top of the box through contact that Wieczorek dove to deflect away from the right post, resulting in a corner kick. Then off Kylea Becker's corner kick she was able to head the ball again towards the right post, but into the hands of Wieczorek.
- A quick counterattack for the Mavericks from Wieczorek's second save against Agee, resulted from a deep punt that saw a battle for the ball between Ellie Talich and Ellie Duncan. Duncan came away with the ball following the contact, but Barthel was able to stop a shot towards the left post in the 66th minute. Barthel then made her final save of the match in the 68th minute, when Jenelle Arenibas headed a shot towards the upper right corner of the net off a corner kick.
- Black Hills State's offensive attack added another pair of shots on frame in the 70th and 75th minutes, first as a corner kick ball found its way out to Becker, who then worked her way past a defender and fired a shot towards the right post where Wieczorek made a diving save. Then Boysen sent a header towards the center of the box off a throw in from Bailey Smith, which saw Wieczorek pick up the ball off the bounce.
- The Yellow Jackets broke the tie in the 82nd minute, when off a free kick opportunity for the Mavericks in their own attacking zone, Zoe Evans and Daniela Rodriguez were able to clear the ball out past midfield and as a CMU defender tried to turn and push the ball back the opposite direction, Agee stepped in the way of the ball. Agee then outran the defense for a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper and placed the ball into the center of the net and passed the diving hands of Wieczorek to give BHSU a 2-1 edge to secure the victory.
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Ivy Agee: 6 shots, 5 shots on goal, 2 goals
Kylea Becker: 4 shots, 1 shot on goal
Ally Boysen: 1 shot, 1 shot on goal, 1 assist
Holly Benson: 1 assist
Rian Barthel: 4 saves
UP NEXT
Black Hills State begins a stretch of four consecutive road matches next weekend, first traveling to Lakewood, Colorado, for an 11 a.m. match at Trailblazer Stadium against Colorado Christian on Friday, October 9.
