It was a weekend of firsts and milestones for women’s college soccer, as the South Dakota Coyotes and the Clemson Tigers both found reasons to celebrate on the road. In Des Moines, the Coyotes snagged their first win of the season with a gritty 2-1 victory over Drake, while in Athens, Ohio, Clemson’s women’s soccer team handed head coach Eddie Radwanski his landmark 150th win with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph against Ohio University. Both matches were packed with drama, emerging stars, and the kind of moments that set the stage for the rest of the season.
For the South Dakota Coyotes, the trip to Des Moines on August 18, 2025, marked their first away match of the campaign—and they wasted no time making their presence felt. The Coyotes came out swinging, peppering the Drake Bulldogs’ goal with five shots in the opening half, four of which were on target. The early offensive push paid off in the sixth minute when Klarissa Vega stepped up to the penalty spot and coolly slotted home her first career goal. The bench erupted as Vega’s teammates mobbed her in celebration—a special moment for a player breaking through on the college stage.
“It’s always amazing to see a player score that first goal, especially in a tough away environment,” said Coyotes head coach (name not provided in the sources). “Klarissa showed real composure and set the tone for us.”
The Coyotes kept their foot on the gas, and just before halftime, they doubled the lead. Brooke Conway found the back of the net with a well-placed finish, thanks to a slick assist from Sophie Kasel. With only three minutes left in the first half, the Coyotes looked firmly in control at 2-0. But as any soccer fan knows, no lead is ever truly safe—especially on the road.
Drake came out of the break with renewed energy, ramping up the pressure and outshooting their first-half tally by three attempts. The Bulldogs’ persistence was finally rewarded in the 54th minute, when they pulled a goal back and set up a nervy final stretch for the visitors. The Coyotes’ defense, anchored by goalkeeper Campbell Fischer, was tested repeatedly as Drake pressed for an equalizer. Fischer, who had registered just one save on the day, came up with a crucial stop late in the second half to preserve the win. It might not have been the busiest afternoon for the Coyotes’ keeper, but her timing couldn’t have been better.
Offensively, Brooklyn Bordson and Izzy Quintavalle also contributed to the Coyotes’ attack, each registering a shot on goal. Their efforts helped keep the Bulldogs honest and ensured that South Dakota remained a threat on the counter. With the final whistle, the Coyotes secured their first victory of the season—a confidence boost ahead of a busy week at home.
Looking ahead, South Dakota will return to Vermillion for two home matches: a Thursday night showdown against Kansas State on August 21st, followed by a Saturday clash with Morningside on August 23rd. Both games are set to be streamed live on the Summit League Network, powered by Midco Sports Plus, giving fans a chance to catch the action as the Coyotes aim to build on their early momentum.
Meanwhile, in Athens, Ohio, the Clemson Tigers were scripting a story of their own. On August 17, 2025, Clemson edged Ohio University 1-0 in a tightly contested match that not only earned the Tigers their first win of the season but also gave head coach Eddie Radwanski his 150th career victory at the helm. It was a milestone that Radwanski was quick to share with his staff and players.
“It’s nice but it wasn’t just me who did it. This has been Eddie, Jeff (Robbins, associate head coach), Siri (Mullinix, assistant/goalkeepers coach) and the other assistant coaches who have been here along the way,” Radwanski said, according to Clemson Athletic Communications. “This is a collective effort. It’s an honor to be at a place like Clemson. I love to be a part of a group that’s leading the women’s soccer program. We are trying to raise our level to attain a national championship, and this shows that we have good consistency.”
The Tigers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. In the fifth minute, Juju Harris netted her first career goal, finishing off a neat pass from Kerr. The early strike settled any nerves and gave Clemson a platform to dictate play for much of the match. Radwanski was quick to praise Harris’s breakthrough moment: “Congratulations to Juju. That’s your first college goal, you will never forget it, and to get it that early in the game was nice. It was good for her confidence, and I think there will be more goals to come.”
While the Tigers’ attack threatened, it was their defense and goalkeeping that ultimately sealed the result. Addy Holgorsen faced eight shots from Ohio University, with four of those on target. Holgorsen saved them all, earning her second career win and fourth career shutout. Radwanski highlighted the collective defensive effort, saying, “The most important thing is we got the win. Really impressed that we got the shutout, Addy deserved that, and it was a good collective effort by the entire team.”
The match also saw the first collegiate minutes for Elle Bissinger, Taylor Leib, and Maddie Costello, with Costello even managing a shot on goal. Clemson finished the day with nine total shots—four on target—and three corner kicks, showing a balanced approach that bodes well for the rest of the campaign.
Next up for the Tigers is a non-conference duel against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at Thompson Field, where Clemson will look to carry forward the momentum from their milestone victory.
As the new season gets underway, both the South Dakota Coyotes and Clemson Tigers have laid down early markers. For South Dakota, the first win on the road is a shot in the arm as they prepare to defend home turf. For Clemson, Radwanski’s 150th victory is a testament to the program’s consistency and ambition. With young stars making their mark and experienced leaders setting the standard, fans of both teams have plenty to look forward to as the schedule heats up.
With the action just beginning, the next week promises more drama, more firsts, and perhaps even more milestones as these teams chase their goals. Stay tuned—college soccer’s just getting started!
