A lone goal in the 54th minute provided just enough for the South Dakota Coyotes to steal a 1-0 victory against the UNI Panthers last Sunday in Vermillion, S.D. The two teams had met a week earlier on Sunday, Sept. 5 in Cedar Falls, with South Dakota taking the match in a similar 1-0 fashion. Both teams were looking for one last tune-up before they begin their respective slate of conference games, with the Panthers opening against the University of Evansville at home on Friday, Sept. 17. The Coyotes, members of the Summit League, begin their conference play on Oct. 1 against St. Thomas. 

The game was evenly-matched throughout with both teams looking to find the advantage. Neither squad was able to break through into the scoring column in the first half of play, with the Panthers recording five shots opposed to two for USD. 

South Dakota scored the only goal of the game in the 54th minute of action as senior defenseman Jordan Centineo knocked the ball through the goal, assisted by her teammate Madison Sullivan. The Panther women logged four more shots in the remainder of the game, but none were fortunate enough to find the back of the net as the hosts held on for the victory.

“I thought defensively, we did a good job in the first half,” said UNI head coach Bruce Erickson at the Monday press conference. “But goals change games, and that one kind of turned the game on its head a little bit,” he added.

The loss is the third consecutive and drops Northern Iowa to 2-5-1 on the season, with Missouri Valley Conference play beginning right around the corner. They will open the conference slate against Evansville at home on Friday, Sept. 17 before playing another non-conference match against Missouri-Kansas City.