St. Thomas Stuns South Dakota State in Double OT
St. Thomas beat South Dakota State 3-2 in double overtime in the Summit League soccer tournament quarterfinals.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Soccer
St. Thomas defeated South Dakota State in double overtime in the Summit League soccer tournament quarterfinals. The match was scoreless at halftime, and St. Thomas tied it on a penalty kick in the 88th minute before Izzy McEwan scored the winner in the 106th minute.
Why it matters
The loss ends South Dakota State's season before the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2022. The result reflects how the Summit League tiebreaker sent South Dakota State to the No. 3 seed after its loss to North Dakota State.
South Dakota State outshot St. Thomas 26-to-9 and 10-to-6 on goal, yet finished on the losing side after a double-overtime loss. Mallorie Benhart made three saves for South Dakota State in the match.
The players
St. Thomas
St. Thomas is a private Catholic university in St. Paul, Minnesota, that competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the Summit League.
South Dakota State
South Dakota State is a public university in Brookings, South Dakota, that competes in NCAA Division I in the Summit League.
The details
Abbi Gibbs and Jenna Maloy scored for South Dakota State in the 73rd and 82nd minutes, but Becca Smith's penalty kick in the 88th minute tied the match. The game was moved to Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium because of rain, displacing the usual venue at Fishback Soccer Park.
Timeline
Oct. 15: St. Thomas defeated South Dakota State 1-0 in St. Paul earlier in the season.
Friday: St. Thomas beat South Dakota State in the Summit League quarterfinals.
Season Trajectory
South Dakota State's season ends without an NCAA tournament berth for the first time since 2022, when the program last reached the postseason. The loss leaves South Dakota State at 10-6-3 while St. Thomas advances to face top-seeded Oral Roberts.
The result removes South Dakota State from postseason contention and sends St. Thomas to face top-seeded Oral Roberts. Fans tracking the Summit League bracket will see the No. 3 seed determined by tiebreaker after the North Dakota State loss.
The takeaway
Tiebreakers and single-match results can decide postseason fates quickly in conference tournaments. South Dakota State's shot advantage did not translate into a win, a reminder that possession and shots are not the same as goals.
What happens next
St. Thomas plays top-seeded Oral Roberts next in the Summit League tournament.
Further reading
For more on the local college game, see Soccer coverage across the Saint Paul area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Brookings Register.
