UNI soccer faces SIU in second annual KICK MITO Game

UNI soccer (8-1-1) vs. SIU (1-5-3)

12 p.m. CT | Sept. 24, 2023
Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI Soccer Field
ESPN+

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI soccer continues its Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) homestand on Sunday against the Southern Illinois Salukis. The match kicks off at 12 p.m. and marks Panthers' second annual KICK MITO Game. Fans attending Sunday's match are encouraged to wear green as Panther soccer raises awareness about mitochondrial disease.

The KICK MITO Game was created in memory of Chris, Natalie and Macy Smith's son and brother, Jace Smith, who passed away due to a mitochondrial disease. During halftime, the program will recognize UNI swimmer Olivia Chambers, who has battled mitochondrial disease throughout her impressive swimming career. She does not have an official diagnosis but at the age of 18, she discovered she had multiple mitochondrial gene depletion syndrome and mitochondrial disease which has caused her to become visually impaired.

The program hopes that Sunday's event will raise awareness and research dollars that will aid in more effective treatments and a potential cure. During Sunday's match, UNI soccer will be wearing green socks for mitochondrial disease awareness.

UNI enters Sunday's match on a positive note after downing UIC 1-0 on Thursday afternoon at UNI Soccer Field. The Panthers emerged victorious in a tight, hard-fought battle after Maddie Eastus scored the game's lone goal in the 60th minute. Olivia Knoepfle provided the assist on the play, serving in a cross near the right endline that evaded a leaping Ashley Harrington and two UIC defenders at the front post. The ball fell perfectly at the penalty spot for Eastus, who slotted the ball home for the game-winning goal.

Knoepfle's assist marked her fourth of the season, which moved her into a tie for first place in the MVC. With 12 points each, Eastus and Smith are now tied for the MVC lead for total points. Meanwhile, Caitlin Richards recorded five saves as the Panthers withstood a late UIC offensive flurry to secure the 1-0 victory and Richards' third shutout of the season. Thursday's shutout marked the 14th of Richards' career, moving her into a tie with Anne Marie Witko (2000-03) for the second-most career shutouts in program history.

The Panthers are now 1-1-0 overall in MVC play and enter this weekend's matchup against SIU in third place in the conference. The Salukis, meanwhile, are 0-2-0 in MVC play after falling 2-1 against Drake on Thursday night at Drake Stadium. The contest was scoreless at halftime but the Bulldogs opened the scoring in the 48th minute. McKensey Bunch equalized for the Salukis in the 54th minute with an incredible long-range strike from 45 yards out. Drake found the game-winning goal in the 77th minute to earn the 2-1 victory.

The Salukis' first match of MVC play came against UIC, as the Salukis fell to a shorthanded Flames squad 1-0. UIC goalkeeper Sara Sanabria received a red card for a foul late in the first half with the match tied at zero, so the Salukis had a one-player advantage for a majority of the contest. However, UIC scored the game's lone goal in the 66th minute and held off the SIU attack for the one-goal win.

UNI and SIU met once last season, drawing 1-1 on Oct. 9, 2022 at Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex. Southern Illinois returns 16 players from last season's squad including fifth-year forward Emma Spotak, who scored in last season's match against the Panthers, but the Salukis are under new leadership. Graeme Orr was named SIU's head coach on May 30, 2023 after spending the previous 12 seasons as head coach at Division II West Alabama. Orr was the only women's soccer coach in the history of West Alabama soccer, having started the program in 2011. Orr brought in 15 newcomers to round out his first squad as SIU's head coach, including 13 freshmen.

A second consecutive positive result for the Panthers on Sunday could lead to more national recognition. Ahead of UNI's two conference matches this week, the Panthers moved up to No. 9 in the United Soccer Coaches Midwest Poll. UNI is one spot ahead of fellow MVC foe Missouri State, who currently sits in second place in the MVC. The Panthers are continuing to search for their first national ranking since 2017.

Additionally, Panther soccer head coach Bruce Erickson is nearing another milestone in his coaching career. Erickson won his 298th game at the collegiate level on Thursday against the Flames and is now just two wins away from reaching 300 career wins. It's already been a historic season for the Panthers' seventh-year head coach as Erickson won his 50th game at UNI on Sept. 9.

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