UNI soccer falls 4-1 in first-ever match at Murray State

Thursday, October 5

Murray, Ky.

3 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

10-2-1, 3-2-0

Murray State

3-7-4, 1-1-4

UNI

Murray St.

UNI soccer vs. Indiana State | Oct. 1, 2023

UNI soccer falls 4-1 in first-ever match at Murray State

10/5/2023 6:19:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS

Sophia Balistreri scores lone goal as Racers snap UNI’s three-match winning streak

MURRAY, Kentucky --- UNI soccer's three-match Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) winning streak was snapped on a rainy Thursday afternoon as the Panthers fell 4-1 to the Murray State Racers. Thursday marked the Panthers' first-ever visit to Cutchin Field, and the Racers ensured that UNI would not leave town with its winning streak intact.

The Racers came out on fire, scoring twice in the first 15 minutes of the match and adding a third goal in the 29th minute. UNI ultimately could not overcome a 3-0 halftime deficit and Murray State added a fourth goal for good measure shortly after the halftime interval. Sophia Balistreri scored her first goal of the season in the 86th minute to put the Panthers on the board.

The Panthers, who were also riding a three-match shutout streak heading into Thursday's contest, fell behind early after the Racers found the back of the net on a set piece. In the eighth minute, Murray State's Hailey Cole delivered a corner kick into a congested six-yard box that found the head of Mary Hardy. Hardy's header flew into the back of the net to give the Racers a 1-0 lead. Hardy's goal marked the first time the Panthers had conceded in over 300 minutes of play.

Murray State found success on set pieces throughout Thursday's contest, and that continued in the 14th minute when the Racers were awarded a free kick near the left touchline about 40 yards from goal. Cole's ensuing free kick skimmed twice across the wet grass inside UNI's 18-yard box and trickled past goalkeeper Caitlin Richards to double Murray State's advantage.

Shortly after going down 2-0, Richards left the match due to an injury. Kennedy Buntenbach entered the match in the 26th minute and played the duration of the contest. For Buntenbach, Thursday marked her first action since the Panthers' 3-0 victory over St. Ambrose on Aug. 29.

In the 29th minute, Cole tripled the Racers' lead on a nearly-identical sequence to her first goal of the match. From about the same distance from goal, this time near the right sideline, Cole's long-range free kick skipped off the grass inside UNI's penalty area and found the back of the net.

The Panthers had seven total shots and two shots on goal in the first half, but could not crack the Racer defense in the opening 45 minutes as Murray State maintained its 3-0 lead into halftime.

UNI increased its pressure out of halftime in an attempt to chip away at Murray State's lead. Unfortunately, the Racers quickly found a fourth goal inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Megan Wilson finished a cross from Sydney Etter at the back post in the 51st minute for Murray State's fourth and final goal of the match.

The Panthers kept the Racers off the board for the remainder of the contest and UNI eventually found a goal of its own in the 86th minute. Marissa Gross provided her third assist of the year on Balistreri's goal, sliding a pass with the outside of her right foot to Balistreri, who took a touch forward and fired a shot about 25 yards from goal. Balistreri's effort fizzed into the top corner for her first goal of the 2023 season.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Thursday marked the second all-time meeting between the Panthers and Racers. Both matches have been decided by three-goal margins, as UNI won 3-0 against Murray State in 2022 at UNI Soccer Field.
Hardy's goal in the eighth minute snapped a 310-minute shutout streak for UNI. The streak began during the final 32 minutes of UNI's 2-1 loss to Drake on Sept. 17 and continued through the Panthers' three consecutive shutout victories before being snapped on Thursday.
Buntenbach set a career-high for most minutes played in a single game on Thursday as she played the final 62:42 against the Racers. Her previous high was 45 minutes played, which she did against St. Ambrose on Aug. 29 and against Viterbo on Aug. 19. Buntenbach made two saves on Thursday.
The 2023 Panthers recorded their 89th point of the season on Thursday, as the team remains in second place for most points in a single season in UNI soccer history. The team is eight points away from matching the 2017 squad's program record of 97 points.
Additionally, UNI recorded its 33rd goal of the season on Thursday. The Panthers are now one goal away from equaling the 2017 team's program record of 34 goals. The team's 23 assists are also the second-highest for a single season in program history, as UNI sits six assists away from matching the 2017 team's program record of 29.
With her second half goal, Balistreri became the 12th different Panther to score a goal during the 2023 season.
Olivia Knoepfle had her three-match point streak snapped against the Racers on Thursday. It was tied for the second-longest streak in program history.

UP NEXT

The Panthers remain on the road on Sunday, as UNI travels to Nashville to take on the Belmont Bruins. Sunday's contest kicks off at 2 p.m. CT and marks UNI's first-ever visit to Belmont. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.