BROOKINGS, S.D. – A pair of first half goals helped lead South Dakota State to a 2-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Friday night (Sept. 17) at Fishback Soccer Park. Laney Murdzek and Teani Arakawa each scored in the opening 45 to give the Jackrabbits the victory. 

With the win, South Dakota State improves to 8-1 overall, NIU fell to 3-5 on the season. 

The hosts opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Murdzek. Off a South Dakota State corner, the Jackrabbits had a pair of chances as efforts from Reagan Anderson and Cecilia Limongi were both cleared off the line by the NIU defense. Murdzek collected the second rebound, cut around one defender to create space and fired a shot from eight yards into the back of the net to give the Jackrabbits a 1-0 lead early in the contest. 

On the quarter-hour mark, Sadie McGill (Fort Worth, Texas/North Texas) made an excellent stop as Maya Hansen turned at the top of the 18 and fired a shot that was palmed away by the Huskie goalkeeper. 

South Dakota State doubled its advantage in the 37th minute. The Jackrabbits created a turnover down their left wing and the ball was worked to Arakawa inside the box on the left. Arakawa cut to her right before firing a shot back inside the near post to give South Dakota State a 2-0 lead. 

Two minutes later, Arakawa found her way in behind the NIU defense and McGill made an excellent save at close range. 

NIU earned a free kick in the 44th minute just outside the South Dakota State box and Claudia Muessig (Paw Paw, Mich./Paw Paw) took the set piece, forcing Jackrabbit goalkeeper Jocelyn Tanner to make a save, punching the ball away from danger, as South Dakota State took a 2-0 lead into the interval. 

McGill came up with a good save at her near post in the 70th minute as Arakawa made a darting run into the box and fired a shot toward the near post that was parried away by the Huskie goalkeeper. 

South Dakota State hit the post in the 78th minute as Murdzek fired a shot across the box toward the back post. The ball came back off the post before being cleared away by the NIU defense. 

McGill finished the contest with seven saves for the Huskies. 

NIU will open conference play next weekend as the Huskies host Toledo in the Mid-American Conference opener on Thursday, Sept. 23, before traveling to defending conference champion Bowling Green on Sunday, Sept. 26.