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The Argus is doing a series on our move to D-I. Here are highlights from story #1.
http://www.argusleader.com/sports/Sundayarticle2.shtml
For one day, at least, soccer team belongs
Chris Solari
Argus Leader
published: 8/29/2004
Despite loss, South Dakota State women upbeat about performance vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Editors' note: This is the first of a series chronicling South Dakota State's move to Division I from a variety of viewpoints.
MILWAUKEE - Heather Hill arrived at South Dakota State late this summer after leading the state high school ranks in scoring last year.
She's still awaiting her first collegiate goal, just like SDSU is awaiting its first in Division I. But as the Jackrabbits lost 2-0 against Wisconsin-Milwaukee in their season and D-I debut Friday night, Hill hopes she made a larger, more general statement about South Dakota athletes going against top-level competition.
The 5-foot-5 freshman from Spearfish started as SDSU's lone forward, flashing explosive speed and agility while scooting up and down the field stride-for-stride with the cat-quick Panthers.
"That's why we're so proud of ourselves, to come out here and show what we did," Hill said. "It's great to represent South Dakota and South Dakota State University."
She's not alone. Sophomore Maggie Eilers from Brookings and freshman Lisa Robinson from Spearfish also played significant roles in the game. They are joined by freshman Christine Wey, also from Brookings, to form the largest contingent of South Dakotans on a Jackrabbit squad in the program's five-year history.
"It definitely was one of our selling points," coach Lang Wedemeyer said of his recruitment of the players. "I think that several of the girls we have gotten came here because we were going to Division I."
Eilers, a defender, played alongside Hill on Dakota Gold club teams the last few years and knows plenty about the soccer talent in the state. Having heard often that South Dakota athletes can't compete at the D-I level, she quickly cites a different kind of football player - former SDSU kicker Adam Vinatieri - to debunk that theory.
"It's all a mindset," said Eilers, a 5-4 defender. "I knew I was going to play soccer, and my dream when I was a little kid was that I wanted to play in a professional league. As you get older, you realize how unrealistic that is, but you work harder. The harder you work, you can become anything you want to be."
Robinson, another 5-5 midfielder/forward, pointed out that the Jacks held UW-Milwaukee to a scoreless first half as proof that the team can be successful throughout the move to Division I. The Panthers won the Horizon League's regular-season title last year and are again picked to win the conference title this fall.
"That was a great experience, to play for the first time in the first D-I game," Robinson said. "I think we held our ground that whole first half and in the beginning of the second half. And it was only 2-0. We had so many opportunities."
The opportunity to avenge that loss will come quickly and often. Including today's game against Marquette here in Milwaukee, the Jackrabbits will play nine of their next 11 games on the road against Division I opponents. They also visit the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Oct. 29. . . .
Go State! ;D
http://www.argusleader.com/sports/Sundayarticle2.shtml
For one day, at least, soccer team belongs
Chris Solari
Argus Leader
published: 8/29/2004
Despite loss, South Dakota State women upbeat about performance vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Editors' note: This is the first of a series chronicling South Dakota State's move to Division I from a variety of viewpoints.
MILWAUKEE - Heather Hill arrived at South Dakota State late this summer after leading the state high school ranks in scoring last year.
She's still awaiting her first collegiate goal, just like SDSU is awaiting its first in Division I. But as the Jackrabbits lost 2-0 against Wisconsin-Milwaukee in their season and D-I debut Friday night, Hill hopes she made a larger, more general statement about South Dakota athletes going against top-level competition.
The 5-foot-5 freshman from Spearfish started as SDSU's lone forward, flashing explosive speed and agility while scooting up and down the field stride-for-stride with the cat-quick Panthers.
"That's why we're so proud of ourselves, to come out here and show what we did," Hill said. "It's great to represent South Dakota and South Dakota State University."
She's not alone. Sophomore Maggie Eilers from Brookings and freshman Lisa Robinson from Spearfish also played significant roles in the game. They are joined by freshman Christine Wey, also from Brookings, to form the largest contingent of South Dakotans on a Jackrabbit squad in the program's five-year history.
"It definitely was one of our selling points," coach Lang Wedemeyer said of his recruitment of the players. "I think that several of the girls we have gotten came here because we were going to Division I."
Eilers, a defender, played alongside Hill on Dakota Gold club teams the last few years and knows plenty about the soccer talent in the state. Having heard often that South Dakota athletes can't compete at the D-I level, she quickly cites a different kind of football player - former SDSU kicker Adam Vinatieri - to debunk that theory.
"It's all a mindset," said Eilers, a 5-4 defender. "I knew I was going to play soccer, and my dream when I was a little kid was that I wanted to play in a professional league. As you get older, you realize how unrealistic that is, but you work harder. The harder you work, you can become anything you want to be."
Robinson, another 5-5 midfielder/forward, pointed out that the Jacks held UW-Milwaukee to a scoreless first half as proof that the team can be successful throughout the move to Division I. The Panthers won the Horizon League's regular-season title last year and are again picked to win the conference title this fall.
"That was a great experience, to play for the first time in the first D-I game," Robinson said. "I think we held our ground that whole first half and in the beginning of the second half. And it was only 2-0. We had so many opportunities."
The opportunity to avenge that loss will come quickly and often. Including today's game against Marquette here in Milwaukee, the Jackrabbits will play nine of their next 11 games on the road against Division I opponents. They also visit the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Oct. 29. . . .
Go State! ;D
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