University of Northern Iowa
UIC
UNI soccer opens MVC play Thursday at UIC
9/17/2024 11:15:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Panthers start conference action after posting a league-best 5-2-1 record in non-conference play.
UNI soccer (5-2-1 / 0-0-0 MVC) at UIC (1-7-0 / 0-0-0 MVC)
- 6 p.m. CT | Sept. 19, 2024
- Flames FieldÂ
- Chicago, Ill.
- ESPN+Â
- LIVE STATS
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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI soccer team will conclude a three-match road trip on Thursday evening as the Panthers open Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play in the Windy City against the UIC Flames.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at Flames Field with live coverage available on ESPN+.
Seeking their first MVC opening match win since 2017, the Panthers were picked to finish fourth in this year's preseason coaches poll after a third-place finish and MVC Tournament quarterfinal appearance last fall. Northern Iowa leads the all-time series against the Flames with a 2-0-3 record, which included a 1-0 win in Cedar Falls last year.
UNI wrapped non-conference play on Sunday after surrendering two second half goals, including the game-winning score in the 88th minute in a 2-1 road loss at Omaha. In the loss, Olivia Bohl scored the lone Panther goal, her second of the season and third of her career, while Lauren Heinsch led the purple and gold with five shot attempts.Â
Entering league play, Northern Iowa currently leads the MVC in points per game (7), goals per game (2.7), shot attempts per game (20) and total goals scored (22). Individually, eight different Panthers have found the back of the net this season, including a pair of four goal scorers in Heinsch and Olivia Knoepfle.
Records continue to be set for UNI as the season reaches its midway point, with Heinsch just one goal away from tying Chelsie Hochstedler's (2007-10) school record for most career matches with a goal (20), and Brynell Young's (2015-18) program record for game-winning goals (8).
In goal, Caitlin Richards is also at the doorstep of program history, sitting just one shutout shy of tying former Panther and current UNI assistant coach Jami Reichenberger's (2017-18) school record for career shutouts (18). Richards has been the keeper of decision in all eight of UNI's non-conference matches.
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SCOUTING THE FLAMESÂ
UIC will play its fourth of five consecutive home matches on Thursday against the Panthers, eager to snap a seven-match losing streak. The Flames, who were picked one spot ahead of UNI in the MVC preseason poll by just two points and finished last season with an 6-8-5 record and an MVC Tournament semifinal appearance, have struggled this season with a loaded non-conference schedule with their lone win coming in the season opener against Chicago State.
Coming off a 1-0 loss to Kansas City over the weekend, the Flames have not scored a goal in nearly a month, last scoring in a 3-2 loss to Eastern Michigan on Aug. 22.
Under the leadership of fourth year head coach David Nikolic, the Flames have been led by senior Shelsea Rigby, juniors Chopper Carriere and Sophia Jaime and sophomore Emmy Higgins, with each scoring one of UIC's four total goals on the year. In goal, Lauren Keiser and Francesca Faraci have shared the field with a combined total of 27 saves and a saving percentage averaged at .659.
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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.
