DES MOINES, Iowa - A lone goal early in the second period proved to be enough to push South Dakota State past the Drake women's soccer team, 1-0, Friday evening (Sept. 13) at the Cownie Soccer Complex.

SDSU's Diana Potterveld scored the gamewinner in the 53rd minute (52:14) with a shot into the top of the goal off a pass from Delaney Ratcliffe.

Drake (0-5-2) put four of its 13 shots on goal, but all were successfully stopped by SDSU (3-2-2) keeper Nicole Inskeep and the Jackrabbit defense.

“We worked really hard to create some quality chances that just didn't find the back of the net tonight,” Drake head coach Lindsey Horner said. “We were all over them to start the game, and should have been up halftime. When we don't finish our chances when we have the run of play, the game gets that much harder when the momentum swings.”

Junior Ashlie Stokes (Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City North) led the Drake attack with five shots on the evening while freshman Rebecca Rodgers (Peotone, Ill./Peotone) had a pair of shots on goal. Drake junior goalkeeper Andrea Swanson (Clive, Iowa/Valley) successfully saved three SDSU shots.

“At the moment it feels like we can't catch a break,” Horner said. “I'm proud of our players and how they keep fighting to get us out of this rut, and at the same time I feel for them. We will do what any team would at this stage; keep working to get better.”

The Bulldogs will get their next chance to bust out of that season-opening rut on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 15) when they host Southeast Missouri State. Kickoff at the Cownie Soccer Complex is set for 1:00 p.m.