SPEARFISH, S.D. - The Black Hills State University women's soccer team notched a 1-0 start for just the second time in program history on Thursday night at the Black Hills Power Sports Complex, downing Sioux Falls by a score of 3-1. Three different Yellow Jackets were able to find the back of the net as a balanced offensive attack provided pressure throughout the contest, resulting in a 15-9 advantage in shot attempts and a 7-3 edge in shots-on-goal. Among the goal scorers, Ivy Agee notched not only the first goal of the season for the Green & Gold, but the first goal of her collegiate career to provide the spark to get the offense rolling.
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 3, Sioux Falls 1
Team Records: Black Hills State 1-0 (0-0 RMAC), Sioux Falls 0-1 (0-0 NSIC)
Attendance: 288
HOW IT HAPPENED
- With each team accumulating two shot attempts apiece in the first 30 minutes of action, it was the freshman Ivy Agee that broke the scoreless tie in the 31st minute by placing a strike into the upper-right corner of the net off an assist by Kylea Becker who drew in Sioux Falls defenders.
- Despite the Yellow Jackets holding a 6-3 advantage in shot attempts in opening half, the Cougars continued to give themselves opportunities with set plays off four corner kicks. Off the corner kick chances, however, the Green & Gold did not allow USF to get off any shot attempts in those moments.
- Following a 1-0 lead at the halftime break, BHSU captured the momentum right out of the gates with a pair of goals in the first 11 minutes of the second half. Ally Boysen, making her return to the soccer pitch for the Yellow Jackets in 2026, was able to beat the USF defender to the ball after a pass up the field from Ashley Measles and provided her the opportunity at an open left-side of the net to make it a 2-0 contest in the 49th minute. Then minutes later off a throw in, Becker again drew the Cougar defense in and opened up a window for a pass across the box to Zoe Evans to place the ball into the top-left corner of the net to give Black Hills State a 3-0 advantage in the 56th minute.
- In goal for the Yellow Jackets, it wasn't until the 60th minute of action that Rian Barthel needed to make a save as she made a diving stop in front of the left post to grab a shot attempt from Addison Van Zee. Then with just under ten minutes to play in the 81st minute, Barthel made her second and final save of the night as Maren Hayward sent a long shot attempt from near the far sideline towards the top-center of the net where she snagged it out of the air.
- Ultimately, Barthel was just seven seconds away from starting back-to-back seasons with a clean sheet, however, Van Zee avoided the shutout for Sioux Falls as she capitalized on a breakaway opportunity and place the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net in the final seconds to make it a 3-1 final.
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Ivy Agee: 2 shots, 2 shots-on-goal, 1 goal
Ally Boysen: 1 shot, 1 shot-on-goal, 1 goal
Zoe Evans: 1 shot, 1 shot-on-goal, 1 goal
Kylea Becker: 3 shots, 1 shot-on-goal, 2 assists
Ashley Measles: 1 assist
Rian Barthel: 2 saves
UP NEXT
Black Hills State concludes the opening weekend of the season on Saturday, August 29, by facing Minnesota Crookston in a neutral site battle at the Black Hills Surgical Sports Complex in Rapid City, South Dakota. It will be an 11 a.m. kickoff for the match-up that will be streamed live on the RMAC Network.
