CEDAR FALLS — The UNI soccer team fought to the final whistle on Thursday afternoon to break a deadlocked score, but ultimately finished with a 1-1 draw against the Belmont Bruins in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action at the UNI Soccer Field.
Coming off a scoreless tie at Indiana State on Sunday, the Panthers have now recorded consecutive ties in league play for the first time since 2022 when they notched five consecutive ties against MVC challengers.
Belmont struck first in the 16th minute of play as Reagan Ross scored on an assist from Anna Sanuel to clinch the first score of the game on a shot past Northern Iowa goalkeeper Caitlin Richards. UNI would strike back just a few minutes later in the 23rd minute as Olivia Knoepfle connected with Marissa Gross in front of the box for the equalizer.
In a match where the Panthers narrowly outshot the Bruins 9-8, the second half saw UNI put pressure on Belmont goalkeeper Sydney Jones with seven shot attempts in the final 45 minutes of action. Both the Panthers and Bruins would get their chances to net the go-ahead score, but stellar defense on both sides kept the match even at 1-1 through the final horn as UNI and Belmont settled for one point each in the league standings.
Macy Smith, Caroline Hazen and Lauren Heinsch each tallied two shot attempts, while Gross, Knoepfle and Maddie Celarek each recorded one shot in the match for the purple and gold.
“Credit to Belmont today,” said UNI head coach Bruce Erickson after the match. “They were better in the ball winning area and played with more conviction than us. We had some very good stretches in the game and created the best chances, but just weren’t good enough to find a second goal. Sunday is a big game at SIU for our squad.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES
UNI remains unbeaten all-time against Belmont after Thursday’s draw, now leading the series 3-0-2.
Marissa Gross’ first half goal was her third of the season and of her career. Olivia Knoepfle meanwhile notched her third assists of the year and 11th as a Panther.
Knoepfle is now tied for third all-time in program history after notching her 11th career assist on Thursday, drawing even with Sarah Brandt (2014-17). Knoepfle’s former teammate Ashley Harrington (2020-23) holds UNI’s career assists record with 14.
Knoepfle also tallied her 41st career point in Thursday’s draw, fifth-most in team history.
UNI goalkeeper Caitlin Richards has now recorded at least one save in her last 15 matches dating back to last season.
Richards also became the second goalkeeper in Panther history to surpass 6,000 career minutes in goal, joining UNI’s first-ever goalkeeper Anne Marie Witko (2000-03).
UP NEXT
The Panthers will hit the road on Sunday, Oct. 13 as they take on Southern Illinois at the Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex in Carbondale, Illinois. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT with live stats available HERE.