University of Northern Iowa
Indiana State
Panther soccer hosts Indiana State on Saturday in MVC opener
9/19/2025 10:51:00 AM | Women's Soccer
UNI opens conference play hosting a high-powered Sycamore offense this weekend.
UNI soccer (3-3-1 / 0-0-0 MVC) vs. Indiana State (4-3-3 / 0-0-0 MVC)
- Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
- 2 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI Soccer Field
- WATCH (ESPN+) [Tim Harwood: Play-by-Play / Kelsey Randall: Analyst]
- LIVE STATS
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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- After a nine-day layoff, the UNI soccer team will return to action on Saturday afternoon as it hosts the Indiana State Sycamores to kick of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) schedule.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT with live coverage of the match available on ESPN+. Fans in attendance will be treated to a new concessions stand this year on-site, located in the northwest corner of the field.Â
Indiana State holds a narrow 12-10-5 lead in the all-time series as the Panthers search for their first win against the Sycamores since a 2-0 shutout in 2023. Last season, both teams battled to a scoreless draw at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute. UNI, who was picked eighth in the MVC's preseason poll, will also be in search of just its fourth MVC opening win in program history, having previously won its first match of league play in 2012 (Indiana State), 2016 (Missouri State) and 2017 (Illinois State).
The Panthers close out their season-long four-match homestand after dropping their non-conference finale to Iowa State last Thursday in a 4-1 loss. Olivia Knoepfle provided the lone goal for Northern Iowa in the sixth minute of action before the Cyclones stormed back with four goals in the second frame.
Nine different Panthers have found the back of the net this year, with Macy Smith leading the way with three of UNI's 12 goals in 2025. Denise Camarena and Sydney Burskey have netted two each, while Sophia Balistreri, Ella Ubben, Haylee Braun, Aynslea Ulschmid, Olivia Mehl and Knoepfle have all scored once.
In the record books, Knoepfle enters Thursday's match one assist shy of breaking another Ashley Harrington's (2020-23) record for career matches with an assist (13) after breaking her career assists record earlier this year, while also sitting fourth in team history in career points (45). Additionally, Camarena sits tied for eighth in UNI history with nine career assists, as Smith has recorded five career game-winning goals, fourth-most in team history.
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SCOUTING INDIANA STATE
The Sycamores visit Cedar Falls with a 4-3-3 record overall and riding a five-match unbeaten streak. Indiana State drew a scoreless tie at home against Lindenwood on Sunday after posting a 5-0 shutout of SEMO and a 2-0 win over Green Bay last week as well.
Led by third year head coach Paul Lawrence, the Sycamores boast one of the top scoring offenses in the nation, ranking third in Division I with 29 total goals on the year and scoring 2.9 goals per match. ISU has also averaged 2.3 assists per contest as well.
Sycamore defender Brooklyn Woods, a Preseason All-MVC Team selection, leads Indiana State with three assists this season, as forward Alex Lehnert leads ISU with eight goals in 2025 and both Isabella Berta and Addyson Werner each scoring twice. In goal Alicia Perez has started six of Indiana State's first ten matches with a 1.33 goals allowed average and a .727 save percentage.
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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.
