UNI soccer falls 1-0 to Valparaiso in MVC quarterfinal round

Sunday, October 29

Cedar Falls, Iowa

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

13-5-1, 6-4-0

Valparaiso

9-5-6, 3-3-4

Valparaiso

UNI

Photo by: Eli Hull

UNI soccer falls 1-0 to Valparaiso in MVC quarterfinal round

10/29/2023 5:03:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS Photo Gallery

Panthers suffer first home loss in 2023 as Beacons end historic UNI season

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI soccer saw its season come to an end on Sunday afternoon as the Panthers fell 1-0 against the Valparaiso Beacons in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament. Kelsie James scored the lone goal of the contest in the 64th minute on an assist from Allie Anderson, and Nikki Coryell made four key saves to preserve Valparaiso's shutout win.

The loss marked UNI's second to the Beacons in 2023 after Valparaiso beat the Panthers 2-0 on Oct. 19. UNI recorded 15 total shots on Sunday and outshot the Beacons on the afternoon but could not find the back of the net as Valparaiso advanced to the MVC semifinal round.

"We just weren't quite sharp enough today although we certainly created enough chances outshooting and out-cornering them, in the end it wasn't enough," said head coach Bruce Erickson. "We had a great year and I can't thank our group, especially our seniors, enough for meeting and exceeding standards for what this program is going to be. Can't wait to get back to work this offseason."

Sunday's loss marked the first for UNI at home in the 2023 season. The Panthers closed the regular season with a 10-0-0 record at UNI Soccer Field after downing Illinois State 8-1 on Oct. 22, which marked the first time in program history that a Panther soccer team had finished the regular season unbeaten at home. Prior to Sunday, UNI's last home loss came on Sept. 25, 2022 against Missouri State.

The Panthers created quality chances throughout the contest and had two good opportunities in the opening 10 minutes. In the sixth minute, a cross from Lauren Heinsch found the head of Olivia Knoepfle in the penalty area, but her header flew just over the crossbar. Three minutes later, a low cross from the right wing from Sophia Balistreri found Ashley Harrington about 10 yards from goal, but she pulled her effort just wide.

In the 13th minute, after a UNI foul, Addy Joiner struck the crossbar with a free kick from about 25 yards out. The Panthers cleared the ensuing loose ball after a Beacon foul, but UNI got the ball back up the field quickly and sent a dangerous long ball forward for Heinsch. She latched on to the pass and had a breakaway opportunity against Coryell, but Valparaiso's goalie lept to deny Heinsch's goal-bound shot headed for the roof of the net.

Caitlin Richards made back-to-back saves in the 22nd minute after Molly O'Rear and Lindsey DuSatko got good looks at goal, but Richards stood tall with diving stops as the match remained scoreless. The first half saw 15 combined shots but neither side could find the back of the net as the match entered halftime deadlocked at zero.

The Panthers had their best scoring opportunity of the match in the 54th minute. Following a UNI corner kick, the ball bounced around in the penalty area before falling to Olivia Bohl about 12 yards from goal. Bohl looped a shot that had Coryell beaten, but Beacon defender Daisy Boardman lept and headed Bohl's shot off the post and Valparaiso cleared the ball away.

10 minutes later, the Beacons found the game-winning goal. On a Valparaiso throw-in from the left side of the field, DuSatko played a pass forward for Anderson, who looped a cross into the penalty area. The ball fell perfectly for James at the back post and she slotted the ball past Richards for the goal.

UNI immediately began pressing for an equalizer and generated a handful of set piece opportunities and corner kicks, but the Panthers could not break down Coryell and the Beacon defense. The Panthers recorded just one shot on target over the final 26 minutes as Valparaiso held on for the 1-0 victory.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Despite Sunday's loss, the 2023 season was a historic one for UNI soccer. The Panthers closed the 2023 regular season with 13 wins, the second-highest single season win total in program history, and set single program records for total goals (45), total assists (36) and total points (126).
The Panthers went unbeaten through non-conference play for the first time in program history and went unbeaten in the regular season at home for the first time in program history.
UNI closed the regular season in third place in the final MVC standings, matching the program's best-ever MVC finish.
Individually, UNI's stellar offensive season saw several players make their mark on the record books. Knoepfle matched Brynell Yount's (2017) single season program record of 24 points, and Knoepfle is one of five Panthers who eclipsed 12 total points in 2023.
Knoepfle finished with nine goals, the second-highest goal total for a single season in UNI soccer history. Heinsch and Macy Smith each finished with seven goals, good for fifth place on UNI soccer's single-season scoring list.
Richards had six shutouts in 2023. She finished the season one shutout away from matching former UNI goalkeeper and current Panther soccer assistant coach Jami Reichenberger's (2017-18) program record of 18 shutouts.
Harrington set UNI soccer's career assist record this season and finished her Panther soccer career with 14 assists. Her 14 career games with an assist are also a program record.
Heinsch set program records for career shot attempts and shots on goal in 2023. She closed her UNI career with 190 shots and 94 shots on goal.
15 different players scored a goal for UNI this season.
Sunday's match marked the eighth time UNI has hosted an MVC Tournament match and the first time the Panthers have hosted a postseason match at UNI Soccer Field. The Panthers' lone home MVC Tournament win came in 2017.