University of Northern Iowa
3-0-1, 0-0-0
Saint Ambrose
1-2-0, 0-0-0
UNI soccer offense explodes in 5-0 win over St. Ambrose
8/28/2022 3:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --Â UNI soccer had its highest scoring game in 2022 in a 5-0 win against the St. Ambrose Bees.
Wet and fast conditions from 12 hours of rain didn't stop the Panthers from having their best offensive output of the season on Sunday afternoon. Three different UNI players made five goals over 90 minutes while goalkeepers Caitlin Richards and Kennedy Buntenbach combined for a shutout performance. Along with a strong offensive attack Head Coach, Bruce Erickson netted his 41st win with the program, a new record for UNI Soccer.
The Panthers got started early with their first shot in the second minute from forward Lauren Heinsch. While UNI took 20 shots in the first half it wasn't until the 42nd minute that the Panthers figured out Bees goalkeeper Molly McLaughlin. Freshman forward Sydney Burskey made her first goal of the season on a long shot from the left side of the field that hit the right post before going in.
UNI would quickly add on a second goal before the end of the first half as defender Allison Whitaker got her first of the 2022 season. A feed from freshman Makenzie Orr to the left side of the field in the final 30 seconds put the ball on Whitaker's right foot outside the penalty box. Whitaker was able to make a quick shot that bypassed McLaughlin into the right corner of the net.
Once the Panthers got rolling on offense there was no stopping them in the second half. Forward Ashley Harrington took a free kick in the 46th minute that put the ball right in front of the net. The ball would be put in net by Bees midfielder Kaitlyn Brunson for an own goal. The own goal by the Bees would put UNI up by three early in the half.
Another Panther would get her first goal of the season 13 minutes later. Senior forward Kennedy Rieken had plenty of space on the right side just past the penalty box line. A cross from Burskey made it to Rieken as she followed through with her right foot to put the ball in the lower right corner.Â
UNI would tack on its final goal in the 67th minute as Whitaker had her second in 23 minutes. The senior defender used her head on the left side of the goal box to put a corner kick in the lower left corner of the net. Burskey would pick up a second assist on the tally as she took the corner kick.Â
The Bees put two more shots on goal towards the end of the game. Both shots were saved by Richards and sophomore goalkeeper Kennedy Buntenbach.Â
Buntenbach went in for Richards in the 70th minute of the game to make her first collegiate appearance. Buntenbach made her lone save of the contest shortly after entering the game. She made a diving save in the 72nd-minute off a shot by a Bees midfielder.
Thirteen Panthers registered a shot in the 5-0 win against the Bees, putting the game in the history books for UNI. With 34 shots in the game and 18 shots on goal, the Panthers had the second-best offensive shot output in program history. The 20 shots in the first half along with the 11 shots on goal were also good for second-best in a single game in the history of UNI soccer.Â
Sophomore midfielder Olivia Knoepfle led the team in shots with six of her own as six different Panthers (Caroline Hazen, Heinsch, Knoepfle, Whitaker, Rieken, and Maddie Celarek) led the team in shots on goal at two apiece. Whitaker would be the only UNI player with multiple goals on the afternoon. Burskey was the only player for the Panthers that registered two assists. Goalkeeper Caitlin Richards recorded her second shutout of the season and twice in as many starts for the Panthers.
UP NEXT:
UNI will face another Summit League opponent to start its third week of play in the 2022 season. South Dakota State, the reigning Summit League Champions will travel to Cedar Falls to take on the Panthers Thursday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m.
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Team Stats
Sydney Burskey (1)
GOAL by UNI Burskey, Sydney.
42:13
Allison Whitaker (2)
Assisted By: Makenzie Orr
GOAL by UNI Whitaker, Allison Assist by Orr, Makenzie.
44:50
0
GOAL by UNI TEAM.
46:42
Kennedy Rieken (1)
Assisted By: Sydney Burskey
GOAL by UNI Rieken, Kennedy Assist by Burskey, Sydney.
59:01
Allison Whitaker (2)
Assisted By: Sydney Burskey
GOAL by UNI Whitaker, Allison Assist by Burskey, Sydney.
67:21
