The University of Northern Iowa women’s soccer team played Illinois State Saturday evening. The Panthers fell to the Rebirds, 2-0.

The Redbirds started the match off hot as Lauren Koehl knocked their first shot within the sixth minute. They had two more chances to add to their lead with two consecutive shots within the twenty-first minute. But Panther goalkeeper Whitney Blunt saved the first shot, while the second attempt hit the crossbar.

The Redbirds had three more chances to score within the next four minutes, but every attempt was wide off target. Haley Kerns’ potential match-tying attempt in the thirtieth minute went wide off target. The last two Redbird attempts were both blocked to maintain the 1-0 Panther deficit.

The Panthers kicked off the second half with three shot attempts within the first ten minutes. Redbird goalkeeper Vanessa Niestrom saved Katie Witt’s shot, while Sarah Brandt and Annie Dale’s attempts both went wide off target.

The Redbirds’ Kelli Zickert knocked in their second goal in the sixtieth minute for the 2-0 lead.

Whitney Blunt did her best to keep the Redbirds from adding more by saving the next two Redbird attempts. Blunt finished the match with nine saves.

The Panthers defense came up big, as the Redbirds’ next five attempts all were unsuccessful, Blunt saved three of the five.

The last chance the Panthers had to score came from Annie Dale in the eighty-fifth minute, but her attempt was saved by Niestrom. Neither team were able to make another goal, bringing the match to the 2-0 Panther loss.

The Panthers will have a short break from Missouri Valley Conference play as they will travel to Ames to play the Iowa State Cyclones on Tuesday at 7 p.m.