CEDAR FALLS – UNI’s offense was on point on Sunday afternoon as the Panthers blanked the Upper Iowa Peacocks in a 5-0 win at the UNI Soccer Field for the program’s first shutout win of the season.
Northern Iowa prior to kickoff celebrated its six senior plays for their contributions to the program, including Morgan Barnette, Maddie Celarek, Maddie Eastus, Jaylie Hicklin, Payton Nolan and Jenna Nyblom.
The Panthers dominated the match controlling 71% of possessions and outshot Upper Iowa 30-3 in the win. UNI’s victory also secured the program’s third consecutive season of winning three of its first five matches.
The Panthers struck early in the opening half as Lauren Heinsch scored the first goal of the afternoon in just the second minute of play on a pass from Barnette. UNI controlled 71% of possessions in the first 45 minutes with 18 shot attempts while the Peacocks were held to just three shots. Barnette would double the Panther lead in the 23rd minute with an unassisted score, her third goal of the season to put UNI ahead 2-0, a lead that the Panthers would carry into halftime.
After Kennedy Buntenbach replaced Caitlin Richards in goal in the second half, the Northern Iowa offense continued to roll while keeping the Upper Iowa offense at bay. Olivia Knoepfle netted her third goal of the year in the 50th minute on an assisted pass from Denise Camarena to extend the UNI lead to 3-0. Seven minutes later, Knoepfle found Eastus for a shot high into the right corner of the net for a 4-0 lead, before Eastus herself scored unassisted in the 64th minute once against the upper right corner of the net for her first career multi-goal match.
“Really enjoyed watching our team compete today,” said UNI head coach Bruce Erickson after the win. “Some fantastic goals and great performances all around. Loved how we moved the ball and really pleased with the shutout.”
Hazen and Eastus each tallied four shot attempts with three shots each from Heinsch and Knoepfle. In goal, Richards saved all three of Upper Iowa’s shot on goal attempts.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Sunday was the first all-time meeting between Northern Iowa and Upper Iowa in women’s soccer.
Lauren Heinsch’s goal in the second minute of action was her second of the season, 22nd of her career and seventh career match-winning score. She is now one goal shy of tying Chelsie Hochstedler’s (2007-10) all-time program record of 23 collegiate goals.
Maddie Eastus is now tied with Heinsch with nine career assists, tied for sixth-most in team history and most among active Panthers.
Morgan Barnette extended her team-leading points total to eight this season with her third goal of the season and second assist, both coming in the first half.
Olivia Knoepfle is now tied for seventh with 12 career goals in school history, and is also up to 33 career points after adding on her first assists of the year in the second half.
Denise Camarena’s assist on Knoepfle’s 50th minute goal was her first of the 2024 season and third of her career.
The Panthers return home to close out their three-match homestand on Friday, Sept. 6 to host the St. Thomas Tommies at 4 p.m. CT. Live coverage of the match will be available on ESPN+. Fans are also encouraged to arrive early as the first 50 spectators at the match will receive a free UNI blanket.