University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Missouri State
UNI soccer concedes late, falls 1-0 at Missouri State
10/15/2023 4:13:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Panthers suffer third loss of 2023 season, shut out for first time since Aug. 24 on Sunday
SPRINGFIELD, Missouri --- A late goal ultimately proved too much to overcome for UNI soccer on Sunday afternoon against Missouri State, as Hailey Chambliss' 77th minute finish boosted the Bears to a 1-0 victory. The Panthers recorded four shots on goal in the contest but could not break down Missouri State's defense as UNI was shut out for the first time since Aug. 24 against Western Illinois.
"Proud of the fight and competitiveness we showed today," said head coach Bruce Erickson. "That was a quality game with two good teams. Thought our back line was impressive today as well. We are on to the next game Thursday."
Despite the loss, the Panthers did set a program record on Sunday. With four shots on goal, UNI moved to 135 total shots on goal during the 2023 season. That eclipsed the previous program record of 134 shots on goal set during the 2018 season.
As the Panthers and Bears entered Sunday's contest in a tie for second place in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) standings, the match predictably played out as a tight, cagey affair. The first half of the contest encapsulated this well, as neither side could carve out many quality offensive opportunities.
The first half featured six combined shots, with Caitlin Richards and Missouri State goalkeeper Camielle Day making one routine save each. The best scoring opportunity of the opening frame came in the 36th minute, when Missouri State's Grace O'Keefe rattled the crossbar with a shot from distance. UNI was able to launch a counterattack seconds after O'Keefe's shot, which culminated with a shot from Lauren Heinsch from the right side of Missouri State's penalty area that went straight to Day.
Neither side was able to break through in the first half, though, and the match went into halftime deadlocked at zero.
Both sides came out with energy as the second half began. The Panthers had what ultimately was their best scoring opportunity of the match in the 52nd minute. After a long free kick from Olivia Bohl, the ball fell to Heinsch inside Missouri State's penalty area. Heinsch fired a shot from the left side of the 18-yard box that seemed destined to sneak inside the front post. However, Day dove to knock the shot away and force a corner kick.
Three minutes later, it was Richards' turn to make a crucial save. Gracie English ripped a strike from outside the 18-yard box that was heading for the top left corner of the goal. Richards lept to push the ball away from goal for yet another crucial save that kept the match scoreless.
UNI continued to defend valiantly as Missouri State ramped up its offensive pressure, but the Bears went ahead for good in the 77th minute. On a Missouri State corner kick, the ball bounced around in the Panthers' penalty area before falling to Chambliss on a bounce six yards from the net. She hammered the ball past Richards to give Missouri State a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers responded well after Missouri State went ahead and generated multiple set piece opportunities inside the Bears' half of the field over the final 13 minutes of the match. UNI unfortunately could not convert those opportunities into scoring chances as Missouri State held on for the one-goal victory.
With the loss, the Bears moved past UNI in the MVC table with two regular season matches remaining. UNI now sits in third place in the conference standings, three points behind Missouri State and four points behind first-place Drake, who beat Evansville 1-0 on Sunday.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
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The Panthers set yet another offensive record on Sunday with their 135th total shot on goal. Additionally, the team has now attempted 263 total shots during the 2023 season, which is the second-highest total for a single season in program history. The 2017 squad's 309 shots are a program record.
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Richards is inching closer to eclipsing Lauren Potzman (2008-11) for the second-most minutes played in goal in program history. After going the full 90 minutes on Sunday, Richards has now played 4609:42 minutes in goal for the Panthers. She is 253 minutes behind Potzman with two regular season matches and at least one MVC tournament match remaining.
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Richards remains one shutout away from matching former UNI goalkeeper and current UNI assistant coach Jami Reichenberger's (2017-18) program record of 18 shutouts.
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UNI is now 7-24-0 all-time against Missouri State following Sunday's loss.
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UNI recorded its 12th win of the season on Thursday against Evansville, which is the second-highest win total for a single season in UNI soccer history. The Panthers are still two wins away from matching the 2017 squad's program record of 14 wins.
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The Panthers are a perfect 9-0-0 this season at UNI Soccer Field. The Panthers will look to go unbeaten at home for the first time in program history on Oct. 22, when UNI plays its final match of the regular season against Illinois State.
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