University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
South Dakota
UNI soccer begins regular season play against South Dakota
8/10/2026 1:40:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Panthers are unbeaten in last four regular season openers.
UNI soccer (0-0-0 / 0-0-0 MVC) vs. South Dakota (0-0-0 / 0-0-0 Summit)
- Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026
- 4 p.m. CT
- UNI Soccer Field | Cedar Falls, Iowa
- WATCH (ESPN+) | Tim Harwood (Play-by-Play) / Spencer Steffey (Analyst)
- LIVE RESULTS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI soccer team will kick off its 27th season of play on Wednesday afternoon as it hosts the South Dakota Coyotes in non-conference action.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT at the UNI Soccer Field with the contest free and open to the public.
Spectators can park in the west UNI-Dome lot as well as the gravel lot located next to the Doug and Anne Goschke Outdoor Practice Facility. Parking behind the team benches will be reserved for staff and game officials only.
The Panthers officially will open their 2026 campaign after a 7-0 exhibition victory over Hawkeye Community College last Saturday. Camille Landphair and Shaelee Franck each scored two goals for the Panthers, while Anya McKay, Audrey Still and Abi Roberts also found the back of the net in the friendly.
UNI holds a 10-7-9 record (.557) in regular season openers all-time and are unbeaten in their last four season opening matches. Wednesday marks the third consecutive season the Panthers and Coyotes have met in the first match of the season with the last two matchups both ending in draws, including a 1-1 tie in Vermillion last August. UNI's last win over South Dakota came at home in 2023 (2-1).
Northern Iowa begins year two of the Alex Place Thomas era with her first full season as coach after serving as interim head coach in 2025. The Panthers will lean on the leadership of seven returners including Landphair, Ella Ubben, Torie Delgado, Kylie Knief and Allison Flies, the latter of whom was one of six multi-goal scorers for the purple and gold a season ago.
UNI's 2026 roster features 20 newcomers with ten freshmen and ten transfers, including eight with Division I roster experience. Among the top newcomers this fall include former North Dakota State forward and 2025 Iowa High School Gatorade Player of the Year Abi Roberts, former Wartburg veteran defender Maya Anderson with 54 career matches played, and former Yavapai College goalkeeper Poppy Anderson with 13 career matches played in goal.
SCOUTING THE COYOTES
The Coyotes begin regular season play after a 7-6-6 campaign in 2025 which included a 3-3-2 conference record (Summit League). USD fell to Omaha in the opening round of its conference tournament to Omaha, 1-0.
Ninth year head coach Michael Thomas returns three of his top four goal scorers from a season ago, including Klarissa Vega, who tallied eight goals for the Coyotes in 2025. Mali Van Meeteren also returns for South Dakota who tallied three goals in the Coyotes previous campaign.
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). Schedule and roster information, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
