UNI soccer closes regular season with clinical 8-1 win over Illinois State

Sunday, October 22

Cedar Falls, Iowa

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

13-4-1, 6-4-0

Illinois State

3-9-4, 1-6-3

Illinois St.

UNI

Photo by: Eli Hull

UNI soccer closes regular season with clinical 8-1 win over Illinois State

10/22/2023 4:37:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS Photo Gallery

Panthers secure first unbeaten home regular season in program history, set program record for assists in a season in dominant win

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI soccer closed the 2023 regular season on the highest note imaginable on Sunday afternoon, riding one of the best offensive performances in program history to an 8-1 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds. The win marked the third highest scoring game in UNI soccer history and the Panthers' eight goals marked the most goals scored against a Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) opponent in program history.

The win improved the Panthers to 10-0-0 at UNI Soccer Field in the 2023 regular season, securing the first undefeated home regular season in UNI soccer history. Additionally, the Panthers set a program record for the most assists recorded in a single season while Olivia Knoepfle matched Brynell Yount's (2017) program record for the most total points in a single season against the Redbirds.

"Was really pleased with our efficiency today," said head coach Bruce Erickson. "Scoring 8 goals against a quality opponent is difficult and yet we just kept creating great chances. Really love the quality of goals as well. Good way to go into the tournament."

UNI's stellar offensive afternoon began early on, as the Panthers took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes of the match. In the eighth minute, a corner kick from Maddie Eastus fell perfectly to Olivia Bohl at the penalty spot. Bohl picked the ball out of the air and fired a low shot that evaded the grasp of Illinois State goalkeeper Dani Grgas. The ball found the back of the net for Bohl's first collegiate goal as the Panthers took a 1-0 lead.

Bohl's goal opened the floodgates for a relentless, clinical UNI offense. The Panthers doubled their lead in the 17th minute following an excellent passing sequence. Knoepfle played a through ball forward to Lauren Heinsch down the right side of Illinois State's defense. She received the ball in the penalty area and fired a cross to Ashley Harrington, who slotted the ball past Grgas to double UNI's advantage.

The Panthers made it 3-0 in the 31st minute after a remarkable individual effort by Knoepfle. She latched on to a loose ball at midfield and raced toward the Illinois State defense. After weaving past a Redbird defender, Knoepfle fired a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that flew into the top left corner of the goal.

Illinois State did pull a goal back in the 41st minute with a backheeled goal from Erica Moline, but the Panthers restored their three-goal lead in the 44th minute after an incredible chip from Jaylie Hicklin. Following a Panther corner kick, Hicklin met a loose ball at the top of the penalty area. From about 25 yards from goal, Hicklin lobbed a shot that went over the head of a leaping Grgas and into the goal. The goal marked the first of Hicklin's career and the fourth of the first half for the Panthers, the second-most goals scored in the first half of a match in UNI soccer history.

UNI held a 4-1 lead at halftime and quickly extended that lead as the second half began. Knoepfle scored her ninth goal of the season in the 54th minute after she hammered a strike from distance past Grgas. The goal marked the 24th point of the 2023 season for Knoepfle, which tied Yount's program record, as well as her ninth goal of the season.

Heinsch put her name on the scoresheet in the 62nd minute from about the same spot on the field as Knoepfle. Harrington played a ball forward to Heinsch, who turned and took two touches to the right before firing a strike from about 30 yards from goal. Heinsch's effort went over Grgas' head for the team's sixth goal of the afternoon.

11 minutes later, Macy Smith scored her seventh goal of the season to extend UNI's lead to 7-1. Sydney Burskey tore down the right side of Illinois State's defense after latching on to a long free kick from Maddie Celarek. Burskey sent a low cross to Smith from the endline, and Smith beat an Illinois State defender to the loose ball and tapped the ball into the back of the net.

Burskey capped Sunday's scoring with a goal of her own in the final seconds of the match. Following an Illinois State turnover deep inside its defensive third, Giselle Loza slid a ball across the top of the 18-yard box to Burskey. Burskey took a touch forward and hammered the ball past Grgas to extend UNI's lead to 8-1 in the 90th minute.

With the victory, the Panthers secured their 13th win of the season and the No. 3 seed in the final MVC standings. Third place matches Panther soccer's best MVC finish in program history.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Knoepfle and Heinsch's assist on Harrington's goal in the 17th minute marked the 30th and 31st assists of the 2023 season for the Panthers. Those assists moved the 2023 squad into first place in program history for the most assists recorded in a single season. UNI snapped the 2017 squad's previous high of 29 assists on Sunday.
Sunday's offensive explosion capped a remarkable regular season offensively. UNI finished the regular season with 45 goals, 35 assists and 125 total points, all of which are Panther soccer single season records.
The Panthers' eight goals marked the third-highest scoring total for a single game in program history. UNI scored four goals in each half as well. Four first half goals marked the second-highest total for an opening half in program history, while four goals in the second half marked the third-highest total in a second half in UNI soccer history.
UNI had seven assists on Sunday, the second most in a single game in program history. All told, the Panthers recorded eight goals and seven assists. That total of 23 points marked the third-highest point total for a single game in UNI soccer history.
The Panthers scored eight goals on 13 shots on goal. UNI had 21 total shots on Sunday.
In addition to matching Yount's program record for most points in a single season, Knoepfle is now up to second place on UNI soccer's single season scoring leaderboard. Knoepfle enters postseason play two goals behind Yount, who set the single season program record in 2017 with 11 goals.
Knoepfle recorded her sixth assist of the season on Harrington's goal, which tied her for third place on UNI soccer's single season assist leaderboard. She, ironically, moved into a tie with Harrington, who recorded six assists in 2021.
Heinsch scored her 20th career goal on Sunday against Illinois State, becoming just the fourth UNI soccer player to reach the 20-goal threshold. She is tied with Shanon Dechant (2002-05) and Yount (2015-18) for second place on UNI's career goals list.
With a goal and an assist against the Redbirds, Heinsch moved into a tie with Yount for second place on UNI soccer's career points list. She is one point from matching Chelsie Hochstedler (2007-10) for the most total points recorded in Panther soccer history.
Sunday marked Heinsch's 21st game with a point, which is tied with Sydney Hayden (2016-19) for the second-highest total in program history. Additionally, Heinsch's 16 career games with a goal are the second-highest mark in UNI soccer history.
Harrington also had a goal and an assist on Sunday, and she improved to 38 total points for her career. Her 12 career goals are tied with Jane Masteller (2000-01) for seventh place in UNI soccer history. Harrington's 38 career points rank sixth in program history.
Sunday marked Harrington's 14th career game with an assist and 14th career assist, both of which are program records. It also was her 20th game with a point, which is the third-highest total in program history.
Bohl, Hicklin and Burskey scored their first goals of the 2023 season on Sunday. 15 different Panthers have now scored a goal this season following Sunday's match. Bohl and Hicklin's goals were the first of their collegiate careers.
Caitlin 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. Kennedy Buntenbach played the last 17 minutes of Sunday's contest.
UNI recorded its 13th win of the season on Sunday, which is the second-highest win total for a single season in UNI soccer history. The Panthers are one win away from matching the 2017 squad's program record of 14 wins.

UP NEXT

Sunday marked the final matchday of the 2023 regular season in the MVC. After the Panthers secured third place with Sunday's win, UNI is guaranteed a home postseason match at UNI Soccer Field.

The Panthers are the No. 3 seed in the 2023 MVC Tournament and will play the winner of the match between No. 6 Valparaiso and No. 7 Belmont on Thursday, which will be held at UNI Soccer Field. The Panthers lost to Valparaiso 2-0 on Oct. 19 and beat Belmont 1-0 on Oct. 8. Thursday's match between Valparaiso and Belmont kicks off at 2 p.m. CT. The winner of the Belmont/Valparaiso match will play UNI on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. CT.

Drake won the MVC Regular Season Championship, meaning the Bulldogs will host the semifinal and championship matches. Should the Panthers win next Sunday, the Panthers would advance to face No. 2 seed Missouri State in Des Moines on Nov. 2.