The Upper Iowa women's soccer team capitalized on a header off a corner kick midway through the first period to edge Fort Hays State University 1-0 in the first game of the Peacock Classic on Aug. 30. UIU begins 2018 at 1-0 overall while the Tigers fall 0-1 early in the season. 

Upper Iowa kept the pressure up on offense with a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks on the afternoon. Joline Hellstroem took the first corner kick for the Peacocks which found Hannah Dotter in the middle of the pack who took the header to give UIU the lone score of the match. 

In her debut performance for the Peacocks, freshman goalkeeper Natalie Rudrud posted six saves on 14 shots on the afternoon to aid UIU in their first shutout of 2018.

The Tigers came close to evening the score up in the 36th minute when Aleise Williams took a shot off the ricochet-save by Rudrud's defense against Alex Polignano, but the attempt went right of the mark. 

Both teams had missed opportunities heading into the half. Fort Hays State put pressure on Rudrud in the 41st minute with an open shot up the middle, while Upper Iowa couldn't capitalize on a penalty kick in the final minutes of the period to leave the score 1-0. 

Fort Hays State came out of the break with a strong offensive unit but the Peacock defense led by Molly Doran and Jessica Kron kept the Tigers off the board in the second half. The season opening shutout evens the all-time series 2-2 between UIU and Fort Hays State.

The Peacocks will host the final game of the Peacock Classic on Sat. Sept. 1 against the Ichabods of Washburn University. Start time is set for 4:30 p.m. at Pattison Field.