Missouri Valley Conference women's soccer programs recorded a combined 6-10-3 (0.395) record last week, and the MVC is now 20-25-9 (0.438) through three weeks.
For the third time in school history UNI has won at least five of its first seven matches. Valparaiso scored first for the first time in its six matches this season.
In NCAA statistics, Evansville 7.60 saves against per match is 10th-most, while Indiana State and UNI rank 18th for total goals scored (21). Indiana State's 0.905 save percentage is tied for 18th-best.
Individually, Wimberly Wright of Indiana State ranks 11th with five total assists. Evansville goalie Myia Danek ranks sixth in saves per game (8.00). Lauren Heinsch sets UNI program record for career goals (24).
The MVC closes out its non-conference schedule this Sunday, Sept. 15. League play begins Thursday, Sept. 19. Drake is the defending regular-season champ, while Valpo is the defending tournament champ.
Continuing to etch her name deeper in the UNI record books, Heinsch set three program records last week, including the Panthers' all-time scoring record previously held by Chelsie Hochstedler (2007-10), notching her 23rd and 24th career goals in wins over St. Thomas and UT Martin. Now tied for the team lead with four goals scored this season, she also started her program record 74th career game on Sunday at UT Martin and recorded a point in her 24th and 25th career matches over the weekend, another school record for UNI.
Hailey Wade had a pair of impressive showings last week for Valpo. She played the second half against #15 Xavier, slowing down the Musketeer offense as she made a then-career best six saves. Off the back of that performance, Wade earned her first career start in goal on Sunday at Wright State and picked up her first career victory, stopping 11 shots en route to a 2-1 win. The 11 saves marked the most by a Valpo goalkeeper since Oct. 2018.
The freshman defender was a key figure in Drake’s lone match against South Dakota State this past Sunday, which ended in a 1-1 draw. She played all 90 minutes against the Jackrabbits winning several headers, blocking numerous shots, and keeping most of SDSU’s shots from tough angles outside the 18-yard box from her central defender position. Snowden also earned her first point of the season as she was credited with her first-career collegiate assist on the Bulldogs lone goal of the match against South Dakota State. The Elkhorn, Nebraska native has played in and started all seven matches for the Bulldogs this season logging 612 minutes, which is the most on the Drake squad.
Sophia Schlicklin scored two goals for Southern Illinois against North Alabama (9/5/24). Schlicklin's first goal against North Alabama came in the first minute and a half of play putting the Salukis up 1-0 early. Schlicklin scored the game-winning goal in the 51st minute giving SIU the 3-1 lead and victory. Schlicklin has played in all seven games this season and started in five. She currently leads the teams in goals with four.
UNI Olivia Knoepfle's opening goal in the fifth minute extended her scoring streak to three consecutive matches, tied with Nicole Ferlito (2007-10) for the longest stretch in team history.
Ava Labocki scored her first career goal for the Bruins while Sydney Jones set a new career high with six saves.
UIC Sophomore Amina Marin made her first collegiate start against the Bulldogs on Sunday.
Fifth-year goalkeeper Myia Danek came a save short of matching her career-high in saves with 11 for Evansville.
Sophia Schlicklin scored two goals versus North Alabama while Maycie Massingill scored her first goal as a Saluki.
Maddie Alexander had six saves in 90 minutes in the goal for the Sycamores on Sunday. Alexander now has 36 saves in the 2024 season, where she has allowed only four goals scored in 86 shots faced.
Drake defender Izzy Snowden was credited with the assist, her first of the season, on Eve Blakey's first goal of the season.
With her 22nd career clean sheet, Camielle Day is six short of setting a new program career record for the Bears.
Hailey Wade earned her first career start in goal and was credited with 11 saves, the most saves by a Valpo goalkeeper since Kezia Gesell stopped 12 shots in a win at Illinois State Oct. 8, 2018.
Chloe Cline and Jade Rehberger have teamed up for a Redbird goal on a corner kick for the second time this season.
Nine of the Racers' 11 starters recorded at least 75 minutes of play Thursday night.
The 2024 MVC Women’s Soccer Championship will be conducted at sites of the higher seeds, and eight of 11 teams will qualify for the field. The eight-team tournament will be held over two weekends. The 1 and 2 seeds will have byes in the first two rounds. The semifinals and finals (Nov. 7 and Nov. 10, respectively) will take place at the site of the No. 1 seed. The 2023 Regular-Season Champion was Drake, while the 2023 Tournament Champion was Valparaiso. The Beacons lost to Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament Opening Round.