MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois women's soccer began Summit League play with a 1-0 loss to South Dakota State (6-3-2, 1-0-0). The Fighting Leathernecks are now 4-6-1 overall and 0-1-0 in Summit League play.

"I think we were the better side on the day," Flogaites said. "We created enough chances to win. We have to cope a little bit better with dealing with pressure situations. Part of playing is dealing with the pressure. We attacked well and we passed a lot better. It was the right step forward but it wasn't enough. I'm not really sure how we lost this game, other than one moment of inattention."

Western applied pressure early in the match. Skyler Jessop got the first shot off for the Leathernecks in just the 2nd minute of play but Nicole Inskeep made the save.

Laura Atkinson and the Leatherneck defense then went to work. Atkinson made a spectacular save in a 1 v 1 situation and Lindsey Condon cleared a ball off the line to keep the match scoreless and the momentum in favor of the Leathernecks.

"We were a bit too loose in the back in the first half but we tightened up in the second half," Flogaites continued. "Laura only had to make one save to keep us in the game otherwise I thought we handled them pretty well. The one save was fantastic and she was screened by a lot of bodies."

Chrissy Campbell produced one of the better chances of the match in the 40th minute of play but her shot went just over the bar.

The Leathernecks began the second half in a similar fashion putting six shots on frame in the first 15 minutes of the half. Jessop, Sarah Hall, Jennika Myers and Sloane Levin all produced dangerous opportunities in the early minutes of the second half.

The Jackrabbits proved to be opportunistic however, as they scored on their first chance of the half. Katie McNeary gathered a pass from Madison Yueill and found herself with enough space to put a shot past a diving Atkinson.

"The goal was weird." Flogaites said. "We had three players around the ball and no one stepped to it. It was one moment of inattention and it ruined a clean sheet."

Western pressed forward in search of an equalizer but could not produce a late goal, falling to South Dakota State 1-0.

"We had plenty of chances to win the game in regulation," Flogaites added. "If we bury two of the open goals this game was over inside of 65 minutes. We need the correct spirit when we come out. If you get eight chances and you don't bury one, you're going to lose the game 95-percent of the time."

Western Illinois will be back in action Sunday at noon as it continues Summit League play against North Dakota State at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.