Panther soccer rallies for late win over Southern Utah

Tuesday, August 22

Cedar Falls, Iowa

10 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

3-0-0, 0-0-0

Southern Utah

0-2-1, 0-0-0

Southern Utah

UNI

Photo by: Landon Wirt

Panther soccer rallies for late win over Southern Utah

8/22/2023 1:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS Photo Gallery

UNI scores twice in the final three minutes of regulation. Travel to Macomb on Thursday to face Western Illinois.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- A late-game scoring blitz brought about a memorable comeback for UNI soccer on Tuesday as Macy Smith's 89th minute score completed a 3-2 comeback win for the Panthers against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at the UNI Soccer Field.

The victory marked UNI's first three-match winning streak since 2017 and improved the team to 3-0-0 on the season. UNI's 13 goals scored through the first three matches of the season also tie a program record set in 2019.

"Credit to both teams for playing the conditions and their third game in seven days," said UNI head coach Bruce Erickson. "Both teams battled, but I loved the response our players had to the missed chances and coming back to find a way to win. Credit to our group for pushing each other and emptying the tank!"

UNI had to overcome plenty of adversity to topple the Thunderbirds, including sweltering heat. Southern Utah's Sammy Sofonia opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a strike past Caitlin Richards, the first goal allowed by the Panthers this season.

The Panthers turned up the pressure in search of an equalizer, but the visitors doubled their advantage on the stroke of halftime when Skylar Cano capped a Thunderbird counterattack with a goal in the 43rd minute. Despite UNI having 13 shots in the opening 45 minutes, Southern Utah took a 2-0 lead into halftime.

UNI left off right where it did in the first half with a handful of scoring opportunities in the opening 25 minutes of the second stanza. The Panthers forced Southern Utah goalkeeper Julia Ortega into multiple saves, and Maddie Eastus rattled the crossbar on a freekick in the 69th minute.

However, UNI's search for a goal finally paid off in the 77th minute following a fantastic individual effort from Macy Smith. The Waverly, Iowa native tore down the left side of Southern Utah's defense and fired a rocket past Ortega from the corner of the visitor's 18-yard box. Smith's unassisted, deficit-reducing goal marked her second of the season.

UNI capitalized on multiple dead ball opportunities to complete the comeback, the first of which came in the 88th minute. The Panthers lofted a throw-in on the right flank inside Southern Utah's 18-yard box, and the ball bounced around before falling to Lauren Heinsch near the top of the penalty area. UNI's preseason First Team All-MVC selection looped the ball into the back of the net to level the match, recording her 16th career goal in the process.

UNI continued to press after tying the contest at 2-2 in search of a late winner. Less than a minute after Heinsch's goal, Olivia Knoepfle struck a low shot that Ortega dove to keep out of the back of the net. The Panthers' ensuing corner kick bounced around in front of the Thunderbird goal before Smith steered the ball over Ortega's head and into the back of the net.

Smith's goal, the first game-winner of her career, came with 57 seconds remaining and completed UNI's comeback. The Panthers successfully weathered a late Southern Utah corner kick to secure a 3-2 victory.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI's win on Tuesday was its second-ever against Southern Utah, and first since the inaugural meeting in 2001.
Lauren Heinsch now sits alone in fourth on UNI's all-time goals scored list, passing Sarah Brandt (2014-17) and Sydney Hayden (2016-19).
Heinsch's nine shot attempts against the Thunderbirds also catapulted the Panther senior to second in career shot attempts in program history with 152. Shanon Dechant (2002-05) holds the school record with 157 shot attempts.

UP NEXT
The Panthers hit the road to face the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Thursday in a continuation of non-conference play. The match kicks off at 4 p.m. CT from John MacKenzie Alumni Field and can be streamed on Leatherneck All-Access.