CEDAR FALLS — The drought is over for UNI women’s soccer. Ella Ubben delivered the goal and goalkeeper Hailey Luedtke supplied 10 saves as the Panthers survived relentless Belmont pressure for a 1-0 victory Sunday, September 27, their first win of the season.
Playing through sloppy field conditions, Northern Iowa withstood 17 shots and 13 corner kicks from the Bruins to secure the Missouri Valley Conference victory. The result snapped a 14-game winless streak and gave UNI its first victory in 358 days.
Ubben broke through in the 34th minute, striking a long-range, right-footed shot for the afternoon’s only goal. It was her second goal of the season, third of her career and first game-winner in three seasons with the Panthers.
From there, UNI made that narrow advantage stand.
Belmont put five shots on goal and earned five corner kicks before halftime, but Luedtke kept the Bruins off the scoreboard. The visitors continued attacking after the break, attempting three shots in the opening 10 minutes of the second half and adding eight more corner kicks over the final 45 minutes.
The Panthers held firm through the closing minutes to finally celebrate a victory.
Luedtke matched the career-high 10 saves she recorded in her collegiate debut against Omaha earlier this season. She leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 52 saves.
UNI had generated early opportunities through Kailey O’Brien and Allison Flies before Ubben found the net. Shaelee Franck added an attempt in the 47th minute, and Ubben tried again in the 80th as the Panthers sought breathing room.
Franck and Ubben finished with two shots apiece. Ubben and Morgan Smith each recorded a shot on goal.
Sunday’s breakthrough followed a difficult opening stretch that included a 1-1 draw against St. Ambrose that ended UNI’s nine-game losing streak. This time, the Panthers finished with the victory that had continued to elude them.
Northern Iowa had not won since a 2-1 result at Valparaiso on October 4, 2025. Its previous home victory came against St. Ambrose on September 4, 2025.
The Panthers improved to 4-1-2 all-time against Belmont, earning their first victory over the Bruins since 2023.
UNI returns to conference play Sunday, October 4, at Illinois State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Adelaide Street Stadium in Normal, Illinois, with coverage on ESPN+.