The Peacock women's soccer team earned their fourth shutout win of the season with a 2-0 victory over MSU Moorhead on Sunday afternoon on Senior Day at Pattison Field. Upper Iowa moved into fifth place in the Northern Sun Conference with two matches remaining on the season. With the win, UIU moved to 8-7 on the season and 7-6 in NSIC play, while MSUM fell to 3-12 and 2-11 in conference.
The tone was set early in the match. In a two-minute span, the Peacocks earned four consecutive corner kicks. Despite not being able to score off the corners, UIU showed the ability to control the ball early and often. The Peacocks outshot the Dragons 11-3 in the first half, with
Brianne Fenton netting her third goal of the year in the 12th minute. After a foul in the box by the visitors, Fenton earned a penalty kick and sent the ball through on the right side for the score, putting UIU up 1-0.
Upper Iowa's defense was dominant, allowing just three shots, and goalkeeper
Caila Petrie saved all three attempts. The Peacock offense got another opportunity late in the first half, and essentially put the match away. In the 41st minute,
Gaby Diaz and
Maddie North combined to get the ball to redshirt freshman
Corel Carmichael. Carmichael maneuvered around defenders, and from the top of the box, sent the ball past the goalkeeper for her first career goal. The Peacocks opened up a 2-0 lead they would never surrender.
UIU outshot their guests 7-1 in the second half, and continued to keep the ball on the opponent side of the pitch. Despite not being able to score, the defense held strong behind the play of the backline, and the Peacocks held on for the shutout victory.
For the match, the home team held an overwhelming advantage in shots (18-4), shots on goal (8-3), and corners earned (8-2). Petrie tallied three saves to preserve the clean sheet in net, and improved to 8-7 on the season. Eleven different Peacocks tallied a shot attempt, led by Carmichael's four.
UIU honored their five seniors after the match. Fenton,
Mackenzie Taldone,
Maggie Olson,
Lauren Sharp, and
Christiana Atteberry were honored by their coaches, teammates and fans and will have one match remaining in their careers at Pattison Field.
That match will take place next Friday, Oct. 28 against the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears at 3 p.m. Upper Iowa will then head up to Mankato, Minn. to take on the Minnesota State Mavericks on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. to close out the regular season.
