University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Knoepfle headlines Panther soccer on MVC preseason team
8/11/2025 10:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
UNI tabbed eighth in 2025 preseason poll. Panthers open the regular season on Thursday at South Dakota.
ST. LOUIS --- The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) on Monday announced the members of its annual preseason all-conference teams, as well as the results of its preseason coaches poll.
Redshirt senior Olivia Knoepfle was among 12 student-athletes from the league's ten institutions sponsoring women's soccer to land on the Preseason First Team All-MVC. Northern Iowa was also picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, with Drake, UIC and Belmont as the top three favorites.
An Andover, Minnesota native, Knoepfle ranked second on the Panther roster last season with six total goals and a team-high four assists, earning Second Team All-MVC recognition. Appearing in all 18 matches in 2024 with 31 total shot attempts and 14 shots on goal, Knoepfle was also a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team selection and MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team honoree.
UNI will open the 2025 regular season this Thursday, Aug. 14 when it travels to Vermillion to take on the South Dakota Coyotes. Live coverage of the match can be found on the Summit League Network on Midco Sports.
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2025 MVC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
- Eve Blakey, Forward (Drake)
- Riley Collett, Forward (UIC)
- Taylor Johnson, Forward (Evansville)
- Layla Kelbel, Forward (Drake)
- Olivia Knoepfle, Forward (UNI)
- Ava Labocki, Forward (Belmont)
- Reagan Ross, Wing (Belmont)
- Molly O'Rear, Forward/Center (Valparaiso)
- Mary Hardy, Midfield (Murray State)
- Madelyn Smith, Midfield (Drake)
- Brooklyn Woods, Defense (Indiana State)
- Francesca Faraci, Goalkeeper (UIC)
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2025 MVC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON HONORABLE MENTION
- Breece Bass, Forward (Murray State)
- Eiley Henderson, Forward (Illinois State)
- Sophia Jaime, Forward (UIC)
- Sophia Schlicklin, Forward (Southern Illinois)
- Olivia Anderson, Midfield (Southern Illinois)
- Hannah Gryzik, Midfield (UIC)
- Zoey Mahoney, Defense (Drake)
- Addie Ford, Goalkeeper (Drake)
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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 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.