University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Iowa State (Exhibition)
Panthers soccer opens preseason hosting Iowa State
8/5/2023 11:32:00 AM | Women's Soccer
UNI soccer vs. Iowa State (Exhibition)
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6 p.m. CT | Aug. 7, 2023
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Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI Soccer Field
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI soccer will get its first chance for live competition early on Monday evening as it hosts Iowa State in a preseason exhibition at the UNI Soccer Field.
The matchup will be the first of two preseason contests for the Panthers during the week, as UNI will also host Clarke University on Aug. 11 at 3 p.m. CT. UNI is scheduled to open the 2023 season on the road at St. Thomas (Minn.) on Aug. 17 in St. Paul.
The purple and gold return 21 players from their 2022 roster, including the program's sixth First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) selection in forward Lauren Heinsch, who led UNI with five goals last season, as well as the MVC in shots per game (3.0).
Senior forward Ashley Harrington also returns after leading the Panthers with four assists also returns, along with 2022 MVC All-Freshman Team honoree Caroline Hazen (2 goals), as well as Sydney Burskey (3 goals, 3 assists), Allison Groothius (3 goals).
In goal, Caitlin Richards returns for her senior season after leading the MVC in minutes in goal (1,640:14) and saves (81) last fall. Richards was also named to the MVC All-Tournament Team in 2022.
UNI bolstered its roster during the offseason with the addition of eight new players, including seven new freshmen signees. Among the new faces on campus for the Panthers are forward Camille Landphair, who scored a school record 130 career goals at Dike-New Hartford High School, fifth-most in state history, as well as defender Lindsey Overmann from Class 2A soccer power Waverly Shell-Rock. UNI's lone transfer in defender/forward Rielly Chesna comes to Cedar Falls after appearing in 15 matches with a pair of goals scored last season at Long Island University.
On the sidelines, head coach Bruce Erickson begins his seventh season at the helm of the Panther program. With a UNI record of 43-43-17, Erickson is the winningest coach in program history looking to return the Panthers to the postseason.
UNI finished the 2022 campaign with a 6-6-8 record and 2-2-6 mark in MVC play. With a program record eight ties during the season, the Panthers finished sixth in the MVC table qualifying for the conference tournament. UNI edged Belmont in a 1-0, double overtime victory in the opening round, before taking down third-seeed UIC in a 4-2 penalty kick shootout.
