CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — UNI soccer played to its first tie of the season on Thursday against the Omaha Mavericks.
It was a tight game for the Panthers as they battled with the Mavericks over 90 minutes in their first regular season tie game without overtime since the NCAA rule change in April. UNI led just slightly in possession at 51% while also getting five tries at Omaha goalkeeper Mia Reedtz. Panther goalkeeper Caitlin Richards registered her first shutout of the season in the draw with three saves.
Despite not finding the back of the net, UNI had two excellent chances in each half. The Panthers were on the ball early in the game, taking two shots in the first six minutes. The first shot came from the freshman midfielder Caroline Hazen at the end of the second minute. The shot on goal rebounded off Reedtz for a second opportunity that Hazen tapped with her knee. But the tap wouldn’t be enough to get past a sprawled Reedtz.
Only three minutes later junior forward Ashley Harrington put a shot on goal just outside the top of the box. A jumping save was made by Reedtz as the shot found its way to the top middle of the goal. UNI would get one more SOG in the first half from the sophomore midfielder Siri Ott.
Richards would make all three of her saves in the first half against Omaha. Her first opportunity would come in the 17th minute as Richards came off the line to grab the ball off a free kick on the right side. Richards would make two more saves over the next 20 minutes as her flashiest came at the end of the half. The junior goalkeeper dove to the left side to corral a shot from UNO defender Lauren Schmidt.
The Panthers had another big opportunity in the second half. During the 53rd-minute sophomore midfielder, Olivia Knoepfle had a cross come her way in front of the goalkeeper. Knoepfle kicked the shot off her right leg as Reedtz made a diving save to the right. UNI would make one more shot in the game but didn’t get anything past Reedtz.
The defensive battle would end in a 0-0 draw as the Panthers got the last shot in the 73rd minute. Five Panthers spent the entire game on the field as Richards, Ott, defender Allison Whitakerforward Kennedy Rieken, and midfielder Maddie Celarek played for 90 minutes. Six UNI players would record a shot through the 90 minutes Lauren Heinsch and Sydney Burskey had shots that went wide.
UP NEXT:The Panthers will welcome another NAIA school to UNI Soccer Field on Sunday afternoon. The St. Ambrose Bees will face UNI on Sunday, Aug. 28 with kickoff set for 1 pm