Upper Iowa University Athletics

The Peacock women's soccer team came out on the wrong side of a 1-0 result for the first time this season on Friday night. Upper Iowa entered the match having won all three 1-0 decisions they had played to, but the Northern State University Wolves scored a goal in the 58^th minute and shutout the UIU offense in Aberdeen, S.D.
 
Northern State controlled the pace of play in the first half registering a 7-2 advantage in shots and a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks. Upper Iowa played well to get to halftime tied at 0-0. Northern State held their guests without a shot until the final three minutes of the half when both Haley Ramberg and Liv Wildeman registered shot attempts. Wildeman's was on frame and forced Alexus Townsend to make a save.
 
Wildeman continued her strong play in the second half and nearly had the game's first goal in the 55^th minute; her shot hit the cross bar. Upper Iowa kept the pressure on and earned a pair of corner kicks; the second of which threatened the Wolves keeper off the left foot of Aimee Sies.
 
A minute later, the Wolves took advantage of a defensive mistake as Megan Fastenau ripped a drive past UIU's Natalie Rudrud from 25 yards out. Fastenau found the top left corner for the goal and gave the home team a 1-0 lead.
 
Upper Iowa worked hard for the equalizer taking eight shots and putting four on goal over the final third of the game, but couldn't find the back of the net. A huge chance came in the 83rd minute when the Peacocks transitioned quickly from defense and a through ball found its way to the feet of Haley Ramberg staring face-to-face with the NSU keeper. The two ran into each other and the ball found the feet of Wildeman, who passed it back to Ramberg with only a defender between her and the net. Her quick turn and shot couldn't get past the defender.
 
With less than 30 seconds to play in the match, the Peacocks earned a free kick near midfield and Sies served a beauty into the box. Ramberg's foot got to the ball out of the scrum and put a hard shot on frame, but NSU's goalie made the final save of the night and preserved the Wolves' 1-0 lead.
 
Ramberg led UIU in shots with seven of the team's 12 chances; she put two on goal, while Sies also got two of her corner kicks on frame. Rudrud made six saves in goal.
 
The Peacocks will into Minnesota for Sunday's match. Upper Iowa will line up against the Dragons of Minnesota State University Moorhead at 1 p.m.