South Dakota junior defender Katlin Ptacek has been named the Summit League Defensive Player of the Week for the period ended Oct. 16 as announced by the league office Monday.
Ptacek earns her first weekly accolade after scoring the first of two goals in South Dakota’s 2-1 victory over rival South Dakota State. Ptacek netted a free kick taken just inside midfield in the 44th minute for her first collegiate goal. The ball floated over a crowded box before crashing inside the left frame of the goal.
A native of Owatonna, Minn., Ptacek anchored a Coyote back line that limited the two-time defending Summit League Tournament champions to 10 shots, below their league average 15.6 per game. The Coyotes also defended well against set pieces as the Jackrabbits led in corner kick opportunities 6-2 and had 14 free kicks to South Dakota’s four.
It was the Coyotes’ first win over the Jackrabbits since 2003 and tied the all-time series between the schools 5-5. It marks the second game in as many weeks that South Dakota has earned a win against the team at the top of the Summit League standings.
