UNI soccer falls 2-0 at Valparaiso

Thursday, October 19

Valparaiso, Ind.

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

12-4-1, 5-4-0

Valparaiso

7-4-6, 3-2-4

UNI

Valparaiso

UNI women's soccer vs. Evansville | Oct. 12, 2023

UNI soccer falls 2-0 at Valparaiso

10/19/2023 9:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS

Panthers return home for regular season finale against Illinois State on Sunday

VALPARAISO, Indiana --- UNI soccer dropped its final road match of the 2023 regular season on Thursday night, falling 2-0 to the Valparaiso Beacons. The hosts scored goals on two separate corner kicks in the second half to best the Panthers on a rainy night at Brown Field.

Thursday night's loss marked the fourth of the regular season and the third in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play for UNI. Nicole Norfolk opened the scoring for the Beacons in the 52nd minute after heading home a corner kick from Addy Joiner. 17 minutes later, Lindsey DuSatko sealed the win for the hosts after tapping home a loose ball from a corner kick. Valparaiso out-shot UNI 13-10 on the night.

The first half played out without many threatening chances for either side despite 10 total shots being recorded. Caitlin Richards made a tidy stop on a 20-yard free kick from Norfolk in the 19th minute, and the Panthers' best chance of the opening frame came in the 27th minute when Ashley Harrington fired a shot from distance that skipped off the wet turf and forced a diving save from Valparaiso goalkeeper Nikki Coryell.

The match entered halftime scoreless, but Valparaiso took the lead early on in the second half. In the 52nd minute Joiner lifted a corner kick well inside the Panthers' 18-yard box. From about six yards from goal, Norfolk rose to head the ball past Richards and into the back of the net to open the scoring.

After Valparaiso took the lead, the match began to open up and chances began flowing for both sides. UNI nearly came up with an instant response in the 58th minute following a set piece of its own. Maddie Eastus served in a dangerous corner kick that bounced around in Valparaiso's penalty area before falling to Olivia Bohl on a bounce. Bohl ripped a shot on goal that Coryell pushed over the crossbar to keep the Panthers off the board.

On the ensuing corner kick, Caroline Hazen picked up Eastus' cross on the back post and fired a low shot towards the near post. The ball was heading for the back of the net until Daisy Boardman cleared the ball off the line to end the scoring chance for the Panthers.

Richards made saves in the 62nd and 65th minute to help keep the Beacons' advantage to one goal, but Valparaiso eventually went ahead by two goals in the 69th minute on another set piece. A Beacon corner kick bounced around UNI's penalty area before falling to DuSatko on the goalline, who tapped the ball past Richards for Valparaiso's second and final goal of the match.

UNI was unable to get back into the match after falling behind 2-0. The Panthers recorded just one more shot after DuSatko doubled Valparaiso's lead and the Beacons held on for the two-goal victory.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

A UNI loss combined with wins from both Missouri State and Drake on Thursday night officially eliminated the Panthers from receiving a top two seed in the 2023 MVC Tournament. The Panthers sit in third place in the MVC standings entering the final matchday of the 2023 regular season on Sunday and can secure that position with a win over Illinois State.
There are still a wide range of outcomes for UNI this weekend, though, especially if the Panthers do not beat Illinois State on Sunday. The Panthers can finish as high as third place or as low as sixth place in the final MVC standings.
UIC jumped Murray State in the standings with its win on Thursday night and now sits one point behind UNI with 14 points. The Flames are in fourth place and host Valparaiso in a crucial battle on Sunday. Murray State and Valparaiso are two points behind the Panthers and are tied for fifth place in the standings.
Thursday marked the first time UNI has lost consecutive MVC matches since 2021.
With 10 shots on Thursday, the 2023 Panthers moved into second place for the most shots attempted in a season in program history. UNI has attempted 269 shots, 40 behind the 2017 squad's program record of 309.
The Panthers also improved to 139 total shots on goal, building upon their single-season program record set on Sunday against Missouri State
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 Thursday, Richards has now played 4699:42 minutes in goal for the Panthers. She is 163 minutes behind Potzman with one regular season match and at least one MVC tournament match remaining.
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.
UNI recorded its 12th win of the season last 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.
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.

UP NEXT

The Panthers return home for their final match of the 2023 regular season on Sunday against Illinois State. The match kicks off at 12 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.