The UNI women’s soccer team returns from their 2015 campaign which saw them going 7-9-5. The Panthers are looking to build off of last season and improve in 2016. According to the most updated roster, three of their top five scorers are returning, as well as their veteran goalkeeper Whitney Blunt.
Of the three players returning to the team, Brynell Yount and Marianne Gagne are both sophomores while Amber Nieland will return for her senior year. They are, however, losing top scorers Annie Dale and Katie Witt.
Dale and Witt accounted for nine of their 24 goals last season, as well as 43 of the team’s total 114 shots on goal.
On August 19 they traveled to Grand Forks, North Dakota where they played the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. No one was able to score and the game ended. the game ended in a tie, 0-0.
Before heading back, they made a stop in Fargo to take on the Bison of North Dakota State. It was hard fought game, but the Panthers came up just short, losing 0-2. The Panthers made nine attempts to score, with six of them being close. Blunt finished the game with four saves for UNI.
Looking ahead to their upcoming games, on August 26 they will head to South Dakota State to take on the Jackrabbits.
In 2015, South Dakota State had a solid year, going 12-6. But fortunately for the Panthers, the Jackrabbits are off to a slow start at 0-2 this season. A year ago, these two teams faced off in a close game, which resulted in a 0-1 loss for UNI.
Then on August 28, they have their home opener against Saint Ambrose. In 2015, the Panthers beat them, shutting out Fighting Bees 3-0.
The girls have a good opportunity to build off the success they had a year ago, and put some wins together. It is also an opportunity for both veterans and some new faces to step up and lead the team.