CEDAR FALLS — The University of Northern Iowa women’s soccer team opened its 2026 season with five Panthers making their collegiate debuts, but South Dakota controlled the scoreboard in a 4-0 victory Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the UNI Soccer Field.
Northern Iowa had difficulty generating sustained offensive pressure against the Coyotes, who finished with a 21-5 advantage in total shots and put nine attempts on goal compared with three for UNI.
South Dakota broke through in the 26th minute when Brooke Conway scored off an assist from Brooklyn Pollmiller.
The Coyotes added another goal in the 37th minute and carried a 2-0 advantage into halftime.
UNI did generate a pair of first-half chances on goal, with Kylie Knief and Kailey O’Brien each forcing a save.
South Dakota resumed its attack after halftime, with Gabbie Ryan scoring in the 59th minute to push the advantage to 3-0.
The Panthers were unable to answer despite Ella Ubben adding UNI’s third shot on goal.
South Dakota completed the scoring in dramatic fashion with just one second remaining in regulation as Elsa Nygren found the net following a quick change in possession, producing the 4-0 final.
Knief, O’Brien and Ubben each finished with one shot on goal for Northern Iowa.
Poppy Anderson made her Division I debut in goal for the Panthers and recorded five saves while playing the full 90 minutes.
The season opener also featured several new faces for UNI.
Morgan Smith, Ella McGinnis, Audrey Still, Keira Bogott and Shaelee Franck all made their collegiate debuts.
Smith, Torie Delgado, McGinnis, Still, Allison McCleery, Abi Roberts and Bogott also recorded the first collegiate starts of their careers.
The loss dropped UNI to 9-6-4 all-time against South Dakota and snapped the Panthers’ four-game unbeaten streak in regular-season openers. The four-match stretch had been tied for the third-longest season-opening unbeaten streak in program history.
Northern Iowa and South Dakota have now met in each of the last three regular-season openers.
The Panthers returned to action Sunday, Aug. 16, against Milwaukee at the UNI Soccer Field.