Panther soccer falls at Iowa State in road opener

Sunday, August 25

Ames, Iowa

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

1-1-1, 0-0-0

Iowa State

2-1-1, 0-0-0

UNI

Iowa St.

UNI soccer vs. Western Illinois | Aug. 18, 2024 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

Photo by: Joel Wauters

Panther soccer falls at Iowa State in road opener

8/25/2024 9:24:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS

UNI’s ten-match non-conference unbeaten streak snapped in Ames. Panthers host St. Ambrose on Wednesday afternoon.

AMES, Iowa --- Battling the scorching heat of late August, the UNI soccer team dropped its first match of the season on Sunday night in a 6-1 loss to the Iowa State Cyclones in the Panthers' first road match of the year.

Despite a late first half score, Northern Iowa struggled to put the ball on goal as ISU stretched the field offensively, scoring in quick succession and outshooting the Panthers 20-12 and 13-4 in shots on goal.

After UNI attempted to establish control over ball possession in the opening minutes, Iowa State struck first on offense as Seulgi Lee slipped a shot past Panther goalkeeper Caitlin Richards in the ninth minute on an assist by Magdalena Keck. The Cyclones rode that momentum into the 19th minute as Hannah Shaw doubled ISU's lead with her first career goal on the double assist from Lauren Hernandez and Adelaide Wolfe.

ISU added a third goal just five minutes later as Lauren McConnell found Isabella Agrusso for the 3-0 Cyclone lead in the 24th minute. Northern Iowa would not go into the break scoreless as the Panthers quickly moved the ball downfield on connecting passes from Maddie Celarek and Marissa Gross to find Macy Smith in the 41st minute for a 35-foot, shot out of reach for Cyclone goalkeeper Avery Gillahan, avoiding the shutout and going to the halftime break down 3-1.

Out of halftime, the Panthers went on the attack but struggled to find the back of the net with three shot attempts off the post and crossbar. Iowa State meanwhile continued to extend its lead with Hannah Shaw scoring in the 47th minute, Morgan Furmaiak extending the ISU lead in the 65th minute on a goal off a crossbar shot and Ella Zimmerman scoring the Cyclones' sixth and final goal of the night just two minutes later unassisted.

Olivia Knoefple ended the night with a team-high three shot attempts for the Panthers, with Gross notching two shot attempts, with one each from Denise Camarena, Caroline Hazen, Lauren Heinsch, Morgan Barnette, Ella Anliker, Sydney Burskey and Smith. Heinsch, Gross, Anliker and Smith were responsible for UNI's only four shot attempts on goal.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Northern Iowa falls to 1-11-1 all-time against Iowa State and 1-6-1 against the Cyclones in Ames. UNI's lone win against ISU came in 2018.
Sunday's match fell on the 25th anniversary of UNI's first-ever match in program history, a 1-1 draw against Southeast Missouri on Aug. 25, 2000.
Sunday's loss snaps UNI's ten-match unbeaten streak against non-conference opponents.
UNI's six goals allowed are tied for the second-most allowed in a match in program history.
Macy Smith's first half goal was her first of the season and eighth of her career.
Gross' assist on Smith's 41st minute goal was her first assist of the 2024 campaign and fourth of her career.

UP NEXT
The Panthers return home to begin a three-match homestand beginning Wednesday, Aug. 28 against St. Ambrose. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT at the UNI Soccer Field with live coverage available on ESPN+.

UNI women's soccer action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Panther Soccer), X (@UNI_Soccer) and on Instagram (@unipanthersoccer). The full 2024 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.