UNI soccer makes history with 3-1 win over South Dakota

Thursday, September 7

Vermillion, S.D.

4 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

6-0-1, 0-0-0

South Dakota

2-2-3, 0-0-0

UNI

South Dakota

UNI soccer makes history with 3-1 win over South Dakota

9/7/2023 8:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS

Ashley Harrington sets career assists record with second-half dish to Macy Smith, Panthers host UT Martin on Senior Day this Saturday

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- An early South Dakota goal and a first-half weather delay could not deter UNI soccer from making program history on Thursday afternoon in Vermillion, South Dakota, securing the longest unbeaten streak in program history with a 3-1 win over the South Dakota Coyotes.

The Panthers also secured the longest unbeaten streak to begin a season with Thursday's win while also matching their win total from each of the last two seasons. Ashley Harrington set program history in the victory, recording her 13th career assist in the second half with a pass to Macy Smith. Harrington passed Hannah McDevitt (2015-18) for the most career assists and the most career games with an assist (12) record.

UNI remains atop the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) entering its match on Saturday against UT-Martin thanks to its blistering seven-match unbeaten run to start the 2023 campaign.

"Another excellent performance for our team today," said head coach Bruce Erickson. "I liked our response to conceding a goal and thought our attack was dangerous all night. 3 great goals and a couple great saves to keep USD at one goal."

South Dakota, who entered Thursday's contest riding a five-match unbeaten streak of its own, seemed set on playing spoiler early on in the match. The Coyotes sprung a breakaway in the sixth minute, which Ashby Johnston capped with a low strike from the top of the 18-yard box in the seventh minute. South Dakota's early 1-0 lead marked the first time the Panthers have trailed in a match since their Aug. 22 game against Southern Utah.

UNI continued putting its come-from-behind mentality on display after the Coyotes opened the scoring, equalizing the match ten minutes later. Maddie Eastus slid a pass into the 18-yard box that found Olivia Knoepfle on the run. Knoepfle turned and lofted a left-footed strike towards goal and it found the back of the net after evading the reach of Coyote goalkeeper Caroline Lewis. The goal marked the second of the season for Knoepfle.

The next 17 minutes went by without incident but, after lightning was spotted in the area near First Bank & Trust Soccer Complex, the match entered a weather delay with about 11-and-a-half minutes remaining in the first half. The delay lasted nearly 45 minutes, then play resumed and the match remained at 1-1 entering halftime.

In the 55th minute, Ashley Harrington notched her second goal in as many matches with a headed finish. Following a nice passing sequence, the ball fell to Eastus near the right endline and she chipped a ball across goal. Harrington lept, met the cross with her head and fired the ball into the back of the net to give the Panthers a 2-1 advantage.

Minutes later, UNI ensured that late-game heroics would not be necessary to secure a positive result. Following a corner kick, Sophia Balistreri sent in a second-chance cross from the right wing. The ball pinballed inside the 18-yard box before Harrington settled it with a looping touch. She corralled the ball on the edge of the six-yard box and slid it over to Smith, who hammered it home to extend UNI's lead to 3-1.

The Panthers saw out the win from there, but Caitlin Richards made a one-handed diving save in the 78th minute to preserve UNI's two-goal lead. Taylor Ravelo struck a header towards the top right corner from the penalty spot and it seemed destined to find the back of the net. However, Richards made an impressive leap to push the ball away. Richards made four saves in the contest while Lewis denied 10 of UNI's 13 shots on goal.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Eastus recorded two assists in Thursday's win, which leveled her multiple Panthers for the single-game record for most assists in a match.
Prior to Eastus' performance against the Coyotes, Sydney Burskey's two-assist effort against St. Ambrose on Aug. 22, 2022 was the last two-assist game for UNI soccer
Smith is inching her way closer to the UNI single-season goals leaderboard with her fifth goal of the season. While she hasn't yet cracked the top six, she could tie for the sixth-best single-season goal total with one more goal.
Harrington recorded her third goal of the 2023 campaign and 10th career goal against South Dakota. She is now 10th in Panther soccer history for career goals and is also the 10th UNI soccer player to reach double-digit goals.
Additionally, Harrington recorded the game-winning goal with her 55th minute header. That marked her fourth career game-winning goal, which tied her with Heinsch and Kelsey Yarrow (2015-18) for fourth place in program history.
Heinsch had four shots on goal against South Dakota, which boosted her career shots on goal total to 79. She is now just one shot behind Shanon Dechant (2002-05) for the most career shots on goal in Panther soccer history.
Head coach Bruce Erickson recorded his 49th career win at UNI on Sunday afternoon. Erickson, the winningest coach in program history, is one win away from becoming the first Panther soccer coach to reach 50 career wins at UNI.

UP NEXT
UNI will look to extend its program-best unbeaten run on Saturday against UT Martin. The first-ever meeting between the Panthers and Skyhawks kicks off at 12 p.m. from UNI Soccer Field and can be streamed on ESPN+. Saturday is also Senior Day for UNI soccer. The Panthers will honor their six seniors with a pregame ceremony ahead of the match.