Nov. 9, 2008
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
MACOMB, Ill. - The Golden Grizzlies fired five shots on goal, including two by senior Jessica Boyle and sophomore Meghan Hartwig, but the Oakland University women's soccer team was unable to overcome the tenacious defensive effort of South Dakota State as the Jackrabbits took a 1-0 decision over the Golden Grizzlies in the championship game of the Summit League tournament.
"That's the thing about soccer," said head coach Nick O'Shea. "You have two good teams playing and anytime one of them gets the lead, once you're on the board, it's hard to score on them."
The Golden Grizzlies had two chances to strike first in the opening eight minutes, once off a header by senior Kristi Evans at 5:49 and another just over two minutes later at 7:57 off a shot by Hartwig, but both were stopped by Jackrabbit goalkeeper Nicole Lagrasso.
It would be South Dakota State's Erin Kasmarik that would score the game's only goal at 11:57, when she accepted a feed by Kayla Braffet from a cross pass on the left side, which Kasmarik headed in for an early 1-0 lead.
Oakland was held to just two more opportunities on net for the remainder of the half, while the Jackrabbits' lone shot on goal down the stretch was saved by keeper Kim Herbst.
In the second half, the OU defense kept the pressure off net, allowing no SDSU shots on goal. However, the SDSU defense continued to live up to its ranking as the top defense in the league, as the Jackrabbits allowed just one shot on goal in the second half.
Oakland University had an impressive conference season, going 7-1 in league play and sharing the Summit League title with South Dakota State and IUPUI. Boyle was named Summit League Offensive Player of the Year and she and seniors Evans and Kristi Smith were named to the league first team. Hartwig and Lynch were second team honorees and Lynch and freshman Deanna Colarossi were named to the Newcomer team.
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