September 17, 2026
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) erased a one-goal deficit with back-to-back goals Thursday evening and held a 2-1 lead deep into the second half, but Morningside (Iowa) scored twice in less than two minutes late in the match to rally for a 3-2 victory at Elwood Olsen Stadium.
All five goals were scored after halftime. The setback dropped Dakota State to 0-7-1 overall. Morningside, who won the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) regular-season last season, improved to 3-1-1.
How it happened
Morningside controlled much of the offensive possession during the opening 45 minutes, outshooting Dakota State 10-1. The Mustangs placed five shots on goal, but Trojan goalkeeper
Sierra Verplancke stopped all five attempts to keep the match scoreless.
Dakota State generated its first shot on goal in the 35th minute when
Onika Kline forced Morningside goalkeeper Kyla Syverson to make a save.
Hannah Hint followed with the Trojans' first corner kick moments later.
Verplancke made two more saves during the closing minutes of the half, denying Tuva Hammarlund at 42:21 and Ida Carlsson at 43:45 to preserve the scoreless tie at halftime.
The scoring opened in the 56th minute when Morningside's Liadán Kavanagh found the net, assisted by Gudrun Arnadottir and Hammarlund, for a 1-0 Mustang lead.
Dakota State needed just 2 minutes, 24 seconds to answer.
After Hint took a corner kick at 57:44, Kline scored at the 58:22 mark off Hint's assist to even the match at 1-1.
The Trojans continued their second-half surge and moved in front in the 67th minute.
Madison Smalley's shot was blocked before
Ella Pletcher collected the opportunity and scored at 66:19, giving DSU a 2-1 advantage.
Dakota State maintained its one-goal lead until the final eight minutes.
Morningside tied the match at 2-2 when Jocelyn Fernandez Navarro scored at 82:23, receiving assists from Carlsson and Kavanagh. The Mustangs completed the comeback just 1 minute, 49 seconds later as Carlsson scored at 84:12 off Cajsa Soelvestad's assist for a 3-2 lead.
The Trojans continued to pressure the Morningside defense in the closing minutes. Hint and
Nichole Corona each put shots on goal, while
Lea Jensen and Smalley also attempted shots during the final four minutes, but DSU was unable to find the equalizer.
Inside the box score
Morningside held an 18-9 advantage in total shots and a 10-5 edge in shots on goal. The Mustangs recorded four corner kicks compared with two for Dakota State.
The Trojans committed seven fouls, while Morningside was whistled for four. Neither team received a card.
Dakota State produced eight of its nine shots and both of its goals after halftime after being limited to one shot during the opening period.
Kline led Dakota State with two shots, both on goal, and scored the Trojans' first goal. Pletcher also finished with two shots and scored once.
Smalley registered two shots. Hint recorded one shot on goal and assisted Kline's goal, while Corona had one shot on goal and Jensen added one shot.
Verplancke played all 90 minutes in goal for Dakota State. She collected seven saves while facing 18 Morningside shots and 10 shots on goal.
Up next
Dakota State heads to the state of Missouri for three matches. The Trojans make their first stop in Columbia, Mo., as they take on No. 17 ranked Columbia. Kick-off is set for 4:30 p.m. at R. Marvin Owens Field.
