The UNI soccer team grabbed their first conference win of the year as they traveled to Indiana to take on the Evansville Purple Aces on Friday, Oct. 5.

The Panthers ended the first half of the game scoreless, but within the first minute of the second half, Kelsey Yarrow and Brynell Yount both scored a goal to put the Panthers in front, 2-0. Just minutes later, Yount scored her second goal on her second shot via a penalty kick assisted by Hannah McDevitt, which was enough to give the Panthers the win, 3-0.

On Tuesday, Oct. 9, the Panthers hosted the Western Illinois Leathernecks. The Leathernecks came into the match with a record of just 2-10-1, but upset the Panthers squad 1-0 in an overtime thriller. The Panthers did however outshoot the Leathernecks 22 to 10 with nine shots landing on goal.

UNI wasted no time bouncing back from the upset loss as they traveled to a cold and rainy Terre Haute, In. to take on the Indiana State Sycamores. The Panthers hit two goals in the first half, one in the 16th minute by Jordyn Rolli and another in the 31st by Yount.

Despite leading 2-0 at halftime, Indiana State grabbed their first goal of the match by a goal off the crossbar in the 51st minute. UNI goaltender Jami Reichenberger faced nine shots, saving four to keep the Panther lead at one, ending with a 2-1 victory.

UNI hosted their in-state rivals, the Drake Bulldogs, in another cold weather match on Wednesday, Oct.17. The Panthers were able to get on the board in the seventh minute with a shot deflected off the keeper assisted by Megan Benmore.

Drake responded in the 23rd minute with the equalizer that tied the match at 1-1 with a deflection off of Reichenberger. The Bulldogs would add another goal in the 75th minute to finish off the Panthers 2-1.

The Panthers hosted the Valparaiso Crusaders on Saturday, Oct. 20, in their home finale on senior day, posting a 3-0 shutout. UNI used the windy conditions in the first half to their advantage as Sydney Hayden found the netting in the eighth minute. Jordyn Rolli scored in the 17th minute and Hayden scored her second goal of the match in the 25th minute as the Panthers were able to shut out the Crusaders for their final home win of the year.

UNI (8-7-2) will conclude the regular season at Illinois State on Thursday, Oct. 25 before playing in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, which will begin on Sunday, Oct. 28.