Panther soccer remains unbeaten, downs St. Ambrose 3-0

Tuesday, August 29

Cedar Falls, Iowa

4 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

4-0-1, 0-0-0

Saint Ambrose

0-2-0, 0-0-0

St. Ambrose

UNI

Panther soccer remains unbeaten, downs St. Ambrose 3-0

8/29/2023 7:19:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS Photo Gallery

UNI records program-record 40 shots, Lauren Heinsch sets all-time shot attempts record in win

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Program history, another shutout and a continued scoring tear for the reigning Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Offensive Player of the Week propelled UNI soccer to a 3-0 victory over the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees on Tuesday afternoon at UNI Soccer Field.

The Panthers extended their unbeaten start to the 2023 campaign in the process, improving their record to 4-0-1. Lauren Heinsch set a new program record in the win with her 158th career shot attempt in the 65th minute, passing Shanon DeChant (2002-05).

As a team, UNI also recorded a single-game program record 40 shot attempts.

"Pleased to have another opportunity to get better today," said UNI head coach Bruce Erickson. "Scored three nice goals and liked how we moved the ball around, particularly in the second half. It was good to get some of our depth quality minutes. Kudos to St. Ambrose, they played hard and were disciplined and they made it difficult for us today."

Despite UNI's statistical advantage, St. Ambrose had back-to-back scoring opportunities early in the match. In the second minute, Taylor DeSplinter evaded a Panther defender and fired a low shot at the near post, but Caitlin Richards reacted well to make the save. Richards easily handled a long-range effort from SAU's Kaitlin Brunson just over a minute later.

The Panthers heeded SAU's early efforts at goal and responded by opening the scoring minutes later. In the fifth minute, Heinsch lofted a cross that perfectly found Olivia Knoepfle at the back post. Knoepfle rose and met the ball with her head, firing it into the back of the net to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. The goal marked the first of Knoepfle's collegiate career.

UNI peppered the Fighting Bees' goal early and often in Thursday's contest, but could not find a second goal in the first half. Macy Smith, who picked up the MVC Offensive Player of the Week award on Tuesday morning, was denied on multiple occasions by the SAU defense in the opening frame as the match remained 1-0 at halftime.

DeSplinter engineered multiple early scoring opportunities for the Fighting Bees early on in the second half, but the Panthers ensured that the visitors wouldn't hang around as Maddie Eastus doubled UNI's advantage in the 57th minute. Eastus tore down the left side of SAU's defense before cutting to her right foot and curling a ball into the side netting.

To cap the match off, Smith raced past SAU's back line and slotted a breakaway home in the 78th minute to secure the 3-0 victory. The goal marked Smith's fourth of the 2023 season. Smith has now scored in each of the Panthers' last three victories.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI continued its unbeaten streak against the Fighting Bees on Tuesday. The Panthers are now 11-0-0 all-time against St. Ambrose, with the first meeting between the programs coming in 2010.
UNI has now outscored its opponents 16-2 through four matches in 2023. Through matches played on Aug. 29, UNI has two times as many goals as the next highest-scoring team in the MVC.
The Panthers recorded 20 shots in each half of Tuesday's contest. Both marks tied for the second-most shots the Panthers have recorded in a half in program history, matching a 20-shot first half against St. Ambrose on Aug. 24, 2022.
UNI's depth was on full display against the Fighting Bees. Goalkeeper Kennedy Butenbach played the entire second half in her second appearance of the season. Camille Landphair, Payton Nolan, Jenna Nyblom and Megan Bennington also played in their second contest of the 2023 season on Thursday.

UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action at UNI Soccer Field on Sunday, Sept. 3 against the Omaha Mavericks. Sunday's match kicks off at 1 p.m. CT and can be streamed on ESPN+.