UNI soccer blanks Viterbo in home opener

Saturday, August 19

Cedar Falls, Iowa

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

2-0-0, 0-0-0

Viterbo

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Viterbo

UNI

Photo by: Joshua Dinkelman

UNI soccer blanks Viterbo in home opener

8/19/2023 4:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS Photo Gallery

Panthers dominate possession in second-highest scoring game in program history. Host Southern Utah on Tuesday afternoon.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI soccer scored quick and often on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers secured a commanding 9-0 shutout of the Viterbo V-Hawks in their home opener at the UNI Soccer Field.

The victory marks the third time the Panthers have opened the season 2-0, and the first since 2018. UNI also set three single-game school records in the win, and posted the second-most goals scored in a match in program history.

Caroline Hazen, an MVC All-Freshman Team selection in 2022, opened the scoring in the sixth minute unassisted for her first goal of the year and third of her young career. Five minutes later, Rielly Chesna netted the first goal of her career on a 100-foot shot over the keeper's reach to put the Panthers ahead 2-0.

Controlling 75% of possessions in the first half, Ashley Harrington extended the UNI lead in the 20th minute on a score off a long free kick from Makenzie Orr in front of the UNI bench. Harrington's eighth career goal, along with UNI's program-record 23 first half shot attempts, gave the Panthers a 3-0 advantage heading into the break.

UNI came out of the halftime intermission locked in offensively and scored less than 100 seconds into the second half with Maddie Eastus netting her first goal of the year and second of her career. Just 17 seconds later, Lauren Heinsch became the fifth different Panther to score on a quick attack late in the 46th minute, giving UNI a 5-0 lead.

Heinsch struck again in the 49th minute on a double assist by Olivia Knoepfle and Sydney Burskey, recording her third multi-goal game as a Panther. Freshman midfielder Giselle Loza got in on the action in only her second career game, scoring unassisted in the 56th minute, while Macy Smith put UNI ahead 8-0 in the 66th minute for her first career goal in her season-debut. The Panthers would add one final score in the 74th minute on a Viterbo own goal.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI improves to 5-0-0 all-time against Viterbo, having outscored the V-Hawks 30-0 across all five meetings.
The Panthers nine goals scored are the second-most in the 24-year history of the women's soccer program. UNI's record for goals scored in a single-game is ten, set in 2018 also against Viterbo.
UNI broke three single-game school records on Saturday, including most goals scored in a half (six in the second), points scored (18) and shot attempts in a half (23 in the first).
The Panthers also posted the second-highest shot attempts total in a single-game in program history (37) and second-most shot attempts on goal (20).
Lauren Heinsch's two goals against Viterbo move her into a tie for fourth on UNI's all-time scoring list with 15 career goals, matching Sarah Brandt (2014-17) and Sydney Hayden (2016-19). Heinsch has scored in 12 total matches as a Panther, tied for fourth-most in UNI history, and also passed Hayden for the fourth-most career shot attempts by a Panther (143).
Ashley Harrington is now tied for eighth in career points with 27 following her first half goal on Saturday, joining Jordyn Rolli (2017-19) and Jamie Althiser (2016-19).

UP NEXT
The Panthers return home on Tuesday afternoon to host the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in non-conference action. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT at the UNI Soccer Field, with the game also being broadcast on ESPN+.