University of Northern Iowa
3-0-1, 0-0-0
Western Illinois
1-1-1, 0-0-0
Panther soccer ties Western Illinois on the road
8/24/2023 10:52:00 PM | Women's Soccer
UNI outshoots Leathernecks, but unable to find the back of the net. Return home to host St. Ambrose on Tuesday.
MACOMB, Ill. --- UNI soccer continued its unbeaten start to the 2023 campaign on a blistering hot Thursday evening, securing a scoreless draw with the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Macomb High School.
The Panthers outshot the Leathernecks 9-4 in the contest, but WIU was able to withstand a second-half barrage of Panther scoring opportunities to keep the match scoreless. UNI recorded seven shots and five shots on goal in the second half alone. In goal, Caitlin Richards recorded her second shutout of the season.
"Proud of our effort tonight," said UNI head coach Bruce Erickson. "Had some tired players walking off the field that gave everything. A very good defensive effort and had some great chances to score, but Western Illinois also did a great job defensively tonight."
Scoring opportunities were few and far between for both sides in the opening 45 minutes. The only shot on goal in the first half came when Macy Smith forced a big save from WIU's Isabel Navas Rodriguez in the 40th minute. Both sides combined for just five shots in the opening stanza, and the match went to halftime deadlocked at zero.
However, much like Tuesday's thrilling come-from-behind win over Southern Utah, UNI came out firing in the second half. Olivia Knoepfle put WIU goalkeeper Navas Rodriguez to work early on, with shots in the 54th and 55th minute that forced saves.
The Panthers continued to press Navas Rodriguez and the Leatherneck net as the second half wore on. Just before the 80th minute, the Panthers put two shots on goal from the center of the penalty area from Ashley Harrington and Caroline Hazen, respectively. Those chances marked the last UNI scoring opportunities of Thursday's contest.
Richards was called into action late in the match to help preserve the result. WIU's lone shot on target came in the 88th minute, when Richards denied a Kelsi McThenia shot from the center of the penalty area.Â
NOTES
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Thursday's tie snaps a three-game losing streak for the Panthers against Western Illinois. All three prior meetings went in the Leathernecks' favor, all decided by a single goal.
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Caitlin Richards' notched her 13th career shutout on Thursday night, moving one behind Anne Marie Witko (2000-03) for third all-time in school history.
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Senior Lauren Heinsch sits five shot attempts away from UNI's all-time record. Shanon Dechant (2002-05) recorded 157 career shot attempts in her four seasons with the Panthers to Heinsch's 153.
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Forward Ashley Harrington tied Hannah McDevitt (2015-18) for eighth in program history with her 47th career shot on goal.
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UP NEXT
UNI returns home on Tuesday, Aug. 29 to take on the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT at the UNI Soccer Field, with the match also being broadcast live on ESPN+.
