UNI secures third straight victory in 3-2 win over St. Thomas

Friday, September 6

Cedar Falls, Iowa

4 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

4-1-1, 0-0-0

St. Thomas

2-3-1, 0-0-0

St. Thomas (MN)

UNI

UNI soccer vs. St. Thomas | Sept. 6, 2024 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

Photo by: Bell Rogers

UNI secures third straight victory in 3-2 win over St. Thomas

9/6/2024 7:56:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score FINAL RESULTS Photo Gallery

Heinsch ties program scoring record with first half goal. Panthers visit UT Martin on Sunday afternoon.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- In an aggressive battle against St. Thomas that saw a late opposing goal, the UNI soccer team picked up a 3-2 victory over the Tommies at home on Friday afternoon.

Senior forward Lauren Heinsch set one and tied another school record in Northern Iowa's final non-conference home match of the season, improving to 4-1-1 on the year with its third straight win to close out its longest homestand of the 2024 season. The Panthers have now won four of their first five contests to start a season in each of the previous two years.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Striking quickly in the opening minutes, Olivia Knoepfle netted the first goal of the match in the fifth minute of play with her team-leading fourth goal of the year with an assist by Caroline Hazen and her first point of the season. Later in the 20th minute, Heinsch made history for UNI with her 23rd career goal, tying Chelsie Hochstedler's (2007-10) school record with a deflection off a defender's head and out of reach for UST goalkeeper Olivia Rowe to put the Panthers ahead 2-0.

The Tommies would cut the lead in half just six minutes later as Tatum Trettel slipped a shot past UNI goalkeeper Caitlin Richards on an assist from Abby Brantner, giving the Panthers a 2-1 lead into the halftime break.

Northern Iowa would push it's lead back to two goals late in the second half as Macy Smith found the back of the net for her third goal of the season on an assist from Knoepfle and her first assist of the year. St. Thomas would respond late with an 87th minute score by Izzy McEwan, but it would not be enough as the Panthers held off the Tommies in the final minutes for the one-goal victory.

Heinsch and Knoepfle both finished the day with a match-high three shot attempts each, with two attempts from both Denise Camarena and Ella Anliker. In goal, Richards recorded three saves for her fourth win of the season as a starter.

"Was impressed with our performance today, particularly our attack and movement," said UNI head coach Bruce Erickson following the win. "Olivia Knoepfle was on another level and we created a lot of chances. All of our attackers put in a good shift and our defensive unit played one of their better games."

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI takes a 2-1-1 series lead against St. Thomas with its win on Friday. The Panthers have now won two straight against the Tommies on the soccer pitch.
The 2024 season marks the fourth time in program history that the Panthers have started a season winning four of their first six contests, having done so previously in 2003, 2017 and 2023.
Lauren Heinsch's first half goal set a new program record with her 24th career match recording a point, passing Sarah Brandt (2014-17)
In addition to tying the program's all-time scoring record, Heinsch also tied UNI's record for career starts with her 73rd appearance in the Panther starting lineup. She joins Sarah Lowe (2000-03) and Kate Shaw (2000-03), both original starters from the first years of the program atop the all-time list.
Heinsch has now scored a goal in 18 career matches with the Panthers, two behind Chelsie Hochstedler's school record.
Olivia Knoepfle's opening goal in the fifth minute extended her scoring streak to three consecutive matches, tied with Nicole Ferlito (2007-10) for the longest stretch in team history.
Knoepfle's assist on Macy Smith's second half goal was the 11th of her career, tying her with Sarah Brandt (2014-17) for third-most all-time in UNI history.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will hit the road to battle UT Martin this Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on Skyhawk Soccer Field in Martin Tennessee. Live coverage of the match will be 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.