The Black Hills State University women’s soccer team has announced their 2024 schedule, head coach John Hutchison announced. The Yellow Jackets look to build off one of the best seasons in program history heading into the fall with the season opening up with a trip to North Dakota the first weekend of September.
“We are very excited for the upcoming season. Last season presented some challenges for us, but it definitely helps define who we want to become as a program in playing attractive, competitive and passionate soccer,” commented Hutchison. “Our schedule is going to be demanding, but we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Black Hills State will open the season with a trip to Billings, Montana to battle the University of Mary out of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC) on Saturday, September 7 in a neutral site match.
The following week will see the Yellow Jackets open the home slate with a pair of matches at the Black Hills Power Sports Complex. BH will welcome Montana State Billings to town on Wednesday, September 11, followed by Minnesota Crookston on September 15.
The non-conference slate will come to a close with a trip to Kearney, Nebraska on the weekend of September 20. Starting with a neutral site clash against the Washburn Ichabods on Friday, September 20. The trip will conclude with a clash against the hosts of the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Sunday, September 22.
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) slate will commence the following weekend with a trip to the Denver metro area. Starting with a stop in Lakewood, Colorado on September 27 for a clash with Colorado Christian. That will be followed with a visit to Denver proper to battle the Roadrunners of MSU Denver on Sunday, September 29.
“The RMAC is one of the powerhouse conferences in Division II soccer, but we aren’t going to settle for just being a part of the conference we have our hearts set on more this year,” noted Hutchison on the strength of the RMAC.
The longest home stretch of the season will open the month of October when the Yellow Jackets will welcome Colorado Mines, Colorado Mesa, New Mexico Highlands, and Adams State to Spearfish in the first two weekends of the month.
“Having an incredible leadership in our senior class is huge for us, we are looking forward to seeing their hard work and sacrifice to this program pay off this season,” commented Hutchison on the team’s leadership. “Everyone has put an unbelievable amount of work in this spring. We are looking forward to seeing it this fall!”
The homestand will be followed by ending the month on a four-match road trip as BHSU will make visits to UCCS, CSU Pueblo, Fort Lewis, and Western Colorado.
Prior to the conference tournament, the regular season will come to a close in the first week of November back at the Black Hills Power Sports Complex with the Yellow Jackets hosting Westminster and Regis on November 1. The regular season will come to a close with a mid-week clash with the Regis Rangers at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6 in Spearfish.