University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Southern Utah
Panther soccer squares off with Southern Utah, Western Illinois
8/20/2023 9:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer
- 10 a.m. CT | Aug. 22, 2023
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI Soccer Field
- ESPN+
UNI soccer (2-0-0) at Western Illinois (1-1-0)
- 4 p.m. CT | Aug. 24, 2023
- Macomb, Ill. | John MacKenzie Alumni Field
- Leatherneck All-Access
Â
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- After putting on an offensive clinic through its first two games of the season, UNI women's soccer enters the second week of the 2023 campaign, hosting the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah on Tuesday. The Panthers will also hit the road Thursday afternoon to take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks.
UNI's matchup against Southern Utah, originally scheduled for an afternoon kickoff has been moved up to a 10 a.m. CT start time on Tuesday due to extreme heat.
The Panthers look for their first 3-0-0 start and three-match win streak since 2017 after a commanding 9-0 shutout of Viterbo on Saturday at home, the second-largest margin of victory in program history. Seven different Panthers scored in the win, including a pair of goals from Lauren Heinsch, and the first scores in the careers of Rielly Chesna, Giselle Loza and Macy Smith.Â
The Panthers also set three single-game program records against Viterbo, including the most goals in a half (six in the second), points scored (18) and shot attempts in a half (23 in the first).
Southern Utah comes to Cedar Falls for the first time since 2001 having been shutout in its first two matches, including a 4-0 loss at Omaha on Thursday and a scoreless tie at South Dakota over the weekend. Forward Whitney Gardner leads the Thunderbirds with nine early shot attempts on the season, while Julia Ortega has appeared in both games in goal with 14 saves.
UNI's trip to Macomb will see the Panthers attempt to secure their first win against the Leathernecks since 2016, having dropped the last three matchups. Western Illinois has split its first two matches of the year, including a 3-0 home loss to Northern Illinois and a 1-0 shutout at Chicago State on Sunday. Forward Sachiko Gamo scored the Leathernecks' lone goal of the season, while goalkeeper Isabel Navas Rodriguez enters the matchups with a 1.50 goals allowed average through two contests.
UNI goalkeeper Caitlin Richards continues to maintain a clean sheet with seven saves and no goals allowed. Her career goals allowed average of 1.17 ranks second-best in school history.
Entering this week's competitions, Panther forward Lauren Heinsch sits in a tie for fourth in program history in career goals scored (15), matches with a goal scored (12) and career shot attempts (143). Heinsch also ranks fifth in total points (34) and career shot attempts on goal (68).
UNI captain Ashley Harrington sits just one assist away from tying the Panther program record for career assists. Hannah McDevitt (2015-18) recorded 12 assists during her career to Harrington's eleven. Harrington is also tied for eighth in total points (27) and matches with a point recorded (15), and ninth in shots on goal (46).
