DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team fell to South Dakota State, 3-0, on Sunday afternoon at the NIU Soccer Complex in the final non-conference match of the season for the Huskies. Junior goalkeeper Megan Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) made five saves in the contest. 

"We just didn't work hard enough today," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "We need to stay more disciplined to not allow our opponents to get forward. Our game plan was to work and stay disciplined and we didn't do either of those things today."

NIU (2-4-1) had an early chance as senior Jennie Nailor (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates) fired a shot wide in the third minute of play. 

In the 23rd minute, South Dakota State's Maya Hansen had space inside the box and rattled the woodwork to the left of Donnally as the match remained scoreless. 

South Dakota State (7-3-0) opened the scoring in the 27th minute as Donnally made a save on a shot by Leah Manuleleua but Hansen was first to pounce on the rebound and finish from inside the six-yard box to give the Jackrabbits a 1-0 lead. 

The lead was still 1-0 in the 69th minute when Donnally made an outstanding foot save on a shot from in tight by Sunniva Dunagan, keeping the Huskies within a goal. 

Four minutes later, the Jackrabbits doubled their advantage as Dunagan received a feed from Abigail Kastens near the top of the box and beat Donnally to give South Dakota State a 2-0 lead. 

In the final minute of the contest, Manuleleua netted her sixth goal of the season, collecting a low cross from Hansen to finish from near the top of the six-yard box as the Jackrabbits claimed the 3-0 victory. 

NIU will continue its current three-game homestand on Friday night, September 27, when the Huskies host Ohio in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools. Kickoff against the Bobcats is scheduled for 7 p.m., and admission to all NIU Soccer matches is free of charge.