DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's soccer team is slated to host South Dakota at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night at Cownie Soccer Complex.
 
The Bulldogs are looking to build on the momentum they created in their thrilling 2-1 victory over North Dakota State on Friday. Sophomore Megan Valenzuela and redshirt freshman Rebecka Musungu scored the first goals of their careers to boost Drake past the Bison.
 
The Bulldogs passed a tough test against a stingy North Dakota State defense, a unit that entered the match ranked 13^th nationally in goals allowed per game (.322), recording season bests in multiple categories, including goals (two), assists (two), shots (16), shots on goal (seven), and corner kicks (11).
 
Redshirt senior midfielder Vanessa Kavan recorded a career-high two assists in the match.
 
The win improved the Bulldogs to 2-4-1 on the year.
 
Scouting South Dakota
 
The Coyotes have come out of the chute 1-5 to begin the year, losing five straight after opening the season with a 2-0 victory over Idaho State.
 
South Dakota earned a program-best nine wins in 2018, finishing 9-7-2 on the year. The Coyotes were picked to finish fifth of nine teams in the Summit League preseason poll.
 
They are led by a pair of All-Summit League midfielders, Taryn LaBree and Kellee Willer. LaBree became the first Coyote to be selected to the All-Summit first team after collecting a team-high six goals last season, in addition to being honored as a third team All-West Region selection. Willer notched three goals and seven assists en route to being named a second-team all-conference choice.
 
Junior midfielder Alexis Mitchell was named a player to watch by Summit League coaches prior to this season. She recorded one goal and three assists in 2018.
 
Jordan Centineo, a sophomore defender, leads the Coyotes with two goals this year. Centineo has done well to seize as many scoring opportunities as possible in just 107 minutes on the year.
 
South Dakota is led by head coach Michael Thomas, who enters his second year at the helm after setting a program record with nine wins in his first campaign.