VERMILLION, S.D.—After three years of waiting on scheduling contracts, senior striker
Corey Strang and her four Golden State teammates have a chance to play in front of friends and family in southern California.
A native of Temecula, Calif., Strang will have the opportunity to play at UC Riverside, approximately 40 minutes from home, and then two hours from her hometown at CSUN. Strang's family will also host the Coyotes for dinner this evening.
The UC Riverside match marks the second half of a home-and-home series.
"Mandy and Josh [Green] told me they were trying to get this on the schedule a couple years ago," said Strang. "When UCR came out here last season, I realized that meant we would be traveling to play them this year. I think it's really cool and I am excited for the chance to play close to home."
Strang's parents, Patrick and Wendy, have made the trip to Vermillion for the final two home games during each season. This season, they get to watch their youngest daughter in action at the pair of California games, at the Denver road game and at home for senior weekend. Strang is one of five children with an older brother, Tyler, two older sisters, Brooke and Kelsey, and a younger brother, Garrett. Kelsey was a collegiate soccer player for Kansas Wesleyan.
A two-time all-Summit League pick, Strang was the third-leading scorer in the league last season with 11 goals. She ranks among the top 10 on USD's all-time charts for points (44), goals (17), assists (11), game-winning goals (5), shots-on-goal (48) and penalty kicks made (3). Strang was also picked by league coaches as a player-to-watch in 2016.
"There are only two seniors on the team this year," Strang said. "We have had to step up as vocal leaders and step into that senior role, but without the numbers the other classes have, it is a lot harder than it sounds. Fortunately, we have a great junior class that has stepped up and are helping us out as team leaders."
The Coyotes split opening weekend against a pair of Big Sky foes with a 1-nil result to each game.
South Dakota blanked Idaho in the home opener. A shot by Strang was deflected off the Vandal goalkeeper's hands to freshman teammate
Amanda Carpio. Carpio finished it to the far corner behind the keeper. North Dakota escaped past the Coyotes with a golden goal in the 109th minute.
This weekend, the Coyotes move on to Big West opponents, UC Riverside (0-1-1) at 10:30 p.m. CT Friday and CSUN (1-0-1) at 1 p.m. CT Sunday.
"We are a young team, ambitious to play and excited for the next few months," Strang said.
