CEDAR FALLS — The Northern Iowa women’s soccer team closed its 2026 season Thursday, November 5, with a hard-fought 1-0 loss to in-state rival Drake on a cold, drizzly afternoon in Cedar Falls.
The Panthers held the Bulldogs scoreless throughout the second half but could not overcome an early goal, finishing their season with a 1-13-3 overall record and a 1-6-2 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Drake’s Isabella Balsley scored the game’s only goal in the 18th minute, taking advantage of a deflection inside the UNI penalty area.
The Bulldogs outshot Northern Iowa 9-7, including a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. Despite several opportunities to pull even, the Panthers could not find an equalizer.
Early Drake goal proves decisive
Neither team registered a shot during the first 17 minutes. Drake capitalized on its first attempt when Balsley scored following a UNI deflection in the penalty area.
Ella Ubben responded with two attempts for Northern Iowa, but both missed the target.
UNI’s first shot on goal came in the 43rd minute, when Aly Arena sent a high-arching attempt toward the net. Drake goalkeeper Addie Ford made the save to keep the Bulldogs ahead at halftime.
Panthers battle for second-half equalizer
UNI goalkeeper Hailey Luedtke made saves on shots by Drake’s Hannah Renz in the 57th minute and Angela Gutierrez in the 60th to keep the margin at one goal.
Kacy Kuehl fired a long-range attempt in the 69th minute, but Ford made the stop. Kuehl tested Ford again from distance in the 86th minute without finding the tying goal.
Kuehl led UNI with two shots on goal, while Arena had one. Ubben registered two shot attempts, and Allison Flies and Maya Anderson each attempted one.
Luedtke played the full 90 minutes and finished with four saves and one goal allowed.
Freshman goalkeeper closes season with MVC-leading saves
Luedtke finished the regular season with 81 saves, averaging 5.4 per match. Her save total led all Missouri Valley Conference goalkeepers during the regular season.
UNI closed the year with three draws, tied for the fourth-most in a season in program history.
The finale followed Northern Iowa’s 2-0 loss at Southern Illinois, previously covered by NorthIowaToday.com.
Drake clinches Missouri Valley Conference championship
With its win and Southern Illinois’ loss to Indiana State on Thursday, Drake claimed its ninth Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship and its third in the past four seasons.
The Bulldogs extended their winning streak against UNI to four matches. Northern Iowa now trails 4-16-6 in the all-time series.
With no more matches scheduled, the Panthers head into the offseason after a 1-13-3 campaign.