Upper Iowa has begun GLVC conference play with a 1-1 tie on the road against the Truman State Bulldogs.
UIU opened the game by dominating possession on their opponents side of the field, attempting two shots on goal within the first seven minutes of the game. Freshman defender
Maile Kapualeinani Kehano had a great shot on goal just over the two-minute mark into the game, but junior goalkeeper Tatumn Damron made her first of four saves in the game. Junior forward
Leah Buerck nearly scored in her second straight match in the seventh minute, but her shot was also saved. This aggressive play continued for the Peacocks and would ultimately lead to their first and only goal of the game with sophomore forward
Rachyl Benavides scoring at the 12:01 mark.
Benavides was last year's leading scorer, and she joins Buerck, freshman forward
Meghan Zwicker and sophomore midfielder
Darci Faichnie as Peacocks goal scorers on the season. Sophomore forward
Emma Johnston assisted on the play, which was her first career assist in a Peacocks jersey.
While Upper Iowa had all the momentum after their first goal, it didn't last long. Truman State junior midfielder Olivia Morris scored only 53 seconds later on an assist from junior midfielder Emma Thompson. The Bulldogs had plenty of opportunities to break the tie during the rest of the half, but sophomore goalkeeper
Isabelle Wagner made three saves in the 26
th, 30
th, and 43
rd minute, keeping the game tied at 1-1.
UIU mixed up their lineup, starting 5 different players in the second half. Truman State had a shot on goal just a minute into the second half, but
Isabelle Wagner continued her hot streak racking up another save. Sophomore forward Neveah James quickly answered with a shot on goal in the bottom right corner in the 48
th minute to no avail. There were countless shots off-target throughout the rest of the half but neither goalkeeper was tested too much. That wasn't till the 88
th minute of the game when Truman State freshman midfielder Aubrey Kaupas had a chance to be the hero with a shot on goal into the bottom right corner which was once again saved by Wagner.
The game would end with a final score of 1-1 with sophomore defender
Natalie Lima and junior defender Chloe Jarasz playing the entire game. Freshman forward
Haylie Hutchinson recorded her career high in minutes with 89.
UIU returns home this weekend with back-to-back games that will be highlighted by unique events. The Alumni Recognition Game against Illinois-Springfield will be on Friday, Sep. 22 at 5 p.m. and the Youth Day matchup will be Sunday, Sep. 24 at 12 p.m.
