Coming off four consecutive losses, the Panther women’s soccer team returned home on Saturday, Oct. 12 for a conference matchup against the Indiana State Sycamores.

A back-and-forth battle saw the Panther women come away victorious in overtime by a score of 2-1.

“I was really happy with our group and the way they made it through tough conditions,” head coach Bruce Erickson said. 

“We really had to mentally prepare and focus in a game where grit was probably going to win out.  I was proud of the way Kennedy [Rieken] finished the game.

“I felt like Indiana State was much improved, so it will give us something to build off of this week going into our matchup against Drake.”

UNI got on the scoreboard first with a goal by senior forward Jordyn Rolli in the 31st minute of action.

Indiana State knotted it up with a goal by Celeste Wahlberg to notch the equalizer in the 72nd minute.

In the overtime period, Panther freshman Rieken, who was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week, came through in the clutch to give UNI the win with a goal in the 98th minute.

The Panther women outshot the Sycamore 14-7 for the contest, as well as notching six corner kicks to only one from Indiana State.

The win moves UNI to 1-2 in conference play and 5-7 overall for the season.