University of Northern Iowa
South Dakota State
UNI Battles For a 2-1 Win Over SDSU
9/26/2014 1:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
WATERLOO, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa women's soccer team won the defensive struggle on Friday night to top the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State by a final score of 2-1.
The Panthers opened up the night with a bang as junior Maggie Riley sent in a corner kick with only 1:33 off of the clock and senior midfielder Caitlyn Fuller received the ball on the opposite side and struck the ball back across the goal and into the far post. It was Fuller's second goal of the season.
"Fuler settled that ball really well," said head coach James Price. "[Fuller] drove the ball perfectly into the far corner."
Following the goal to start the game, it quickly became a battle of possession between the Panthers and South Dakota State.
Eventually, the Jackrabbits were able to move the ball into UNI's goal box and Alyssa Brazil was able to drill a shot past UNI's keeper, Whitney Blunt, in the 17th minute.
The Panthers would respond again in the 40th minute as senior Charlotte Jones found freshman Sarah Brandt streaking down the middle of the field and Brandt was able to put a shot past SDSU's keeper in a one-on-one match. It was Brandt's first collegiate goal, and would prove to be the game winner.
"Sarah finished that goal very confidently," Price said. "We've been waiting for that from Sarah. I'm really hoping that goal helps her kick it on for the rest of the season."
Ultimately, the Panthers and SDSU would play to both have 10 shots on the night and neither would conceive a goal in the second half.
For UNI, Brandt would lead the team in shots for the evening with three along with Annie Dale and Jones both contributing two shots of their own. The Panthers thus improved their record to 4-5-2 on the season.
"Allison Bitter was terrific for us as well tonight," Price said. "We had great leadership from Caitlyn Fuller, Maggie Riley, and Sarah McHugh had a good game as well. I think that we had a lot of people play really well."
Up next for UNI, the Panthers will travel to Macomb, Illinois to face Western Illinois on Sunday at 1 p.m.
"Western is a tough team, a tough place to play," said Price. "The challenge for this team is to go on now and to continue the moment into league play and get that second win on the weekend."
