University of Northern Iowa
Saint Ambrose
Panther soccer looks to continue unbeaten start against St. Ambrose
8/27/2023 12:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer
UNI soccer (3-0-1) vs. St. Ambrose (0-1-0)
- 4 p.m. CT | Aug. 29, 2023
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI Soccer Field
- ESPN+
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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Following back-to-back positive results in brutally hot environments, UNI soccer faces another in-state opponent on Tuesday afternoon at the UNI Soccer Field. The Panthers will put their four-match unbeaten start to the 2023 campaign to the test against the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees.
The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest on the heels of two sound performances last week. Last Tuesday, UNI came from behind to stun the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 3-2, scoring three times in the final 13 minutes. Macy Smith opened the scoring in the 77th minute with a solo run down the left side of Southern Utah's defense that culminated with a left-footed strike from the corner of the 18-yard box.Â
Lauren Heinsch equalized the match in the 88th minute, lobbing a loose ball over the goalkeeper's head from just inside the Thunderbird penalty area. Then, in the final few seconds of the match, Smith redirected a corner kick into the back of the net to give UNI the victory. The win marked UNI's first three-match winning streak since 2017.
UNI could not extend its winning streak in its first road match of the 2023 season, but did remain unbeaten after a scoreless draw with the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Thursday.Â
The Panthers outshot the Leathernecks 9-4 with six shots on goal to WIU's one. After a scoreless opening frame, UNI turned up the pressure in the second half with seven total shots and five shots on goal. Defensively, Caitlin Richards earned her second shutout of the season.
St. Ambrose enters Tuesday having played just once so far this season. The Fighting Bees played stiff competition, though, opening their season with 2022 NAIA national runner-up Marian University, who were ranked No. 2 in the 2023 NAIA women's soccer coaches preseason top-25. Despite outshooting Marian 12-8, St. Ambrose fell 1-0 after conceding the game's lone goal in the 64th minute.
Last season, St. Ambrose went 13-4-3 and posted an impressive mark in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play, going 10-1-2. Their 2022 campaign ended in the CCAC Tournament semifinals with a 2-1 loss to Cardinal Stritch University.
The Fighting Bees return plenty of production from the 2022 squad, including their three leading scorers from a season ago: Kaitlyn Brunson, Taylor DeSplinter and Haillee Wilson. Brunson earned an Honorable Mention NAIA All-American selection after scoring 13 goals and recording eight assists in 2022. DeSplinter was St. Ambrose's leading scorer last season with 20 goals, while Wilson scored 11 times in 2022.
The trio were named to the CCAC All-Conference First Team while goalkeeper Rachel Willette, another returner, earned second team honors.Â
Tuesday's matchup marks the 11th all-time meeting between UNI and St. Ambrose, with the inaugural meeting between the sides coming in 2010. The Panthers are 10-0-0 against the Fighting Bees and have outscored them 26-2 across those games. In their last meeting a year ago, UNI bested St. Ambrose 5-0.
A large factor in UNI's early-season success has been sound defense. The Panthers have recorded three shutouts in their opening four matches, two of which have been earned by UNI goalkeeper Caitlin Richards. With 13 career shutouts, Richards can tie Anne Marie Witko (2000-03) for second most in program history with her next clean sheet.Â
Heinsch is also closing in on program history. Her 153 career shot attempts are the second-highest mark in program history, and she needs just five shot attempts in Tuesday's match to pass Shanon Dechant (2002-05). Heinsch is also fourth in program history in career goals scored (16), career shot attempts on goal (72) and fifth in total points (36)
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 11. Harrington is also tied for eighth in total points (27) and matches with a point recorded (15), and eighth in shots on goal (49).
