Cedar Falls, Iowa. – Finishing out the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season, the UIC women's soccer team entered the contest with everything on the line. With the Flames (7-7-4, 3-3-3) searching for a win over the UNI Panthers (4-9-3, 1-6-2) and hoping for an Evansville tie or loss to make it into postseason tournament action, the Flames put all their energy into the match. Ending the first half in a 0-0 draw, the Flames scored on their first opportunity in the second half, taking a 1-0 lead. For the remainder of the game, the Flames put on a defensive showcase, fighting until the final whistle to earn a 1-0 victory. With the win and an Evansville loss to Valparaiso, UIC has earned the No. 6 seed in the MVC Women's Soccer Championship
UIC and UNI battled evenly through the first 45 minutes of action. Both teams would finish the half with seven shots, while the Flames placed two on frame and the Panthers placed five.
Riley Collett put the most pressure on the Panthers for the Flames, recording three shots, one on goal. In the 9
th minute, the Panthers' goalkeeper had to make a fingertip save on Collett's shot that was going across the net. A minute later,
Julia Thomson would have the Flames' next best opportunity. After a
Sophia Jaime corner kick was sent out of the box, Thomson took a one-touch, right-footed shot from nearly 25 yards out. Thomson's shot would force the Panthers' goalkeeper to make a diving save to keep the score tied 0-0.
Emmy Higgins recorded the last shot on the half in the 43
rd minute outside of the 18-yard box, but her shot would be blocked. The Flames and Panthers entered halftime tied nil-nil.
Francesca Faraci ended the half with five saves.
In the final 45 minutes of the 2025 regular season, both the Flames and Panthers came out hot. The Panthers opened the half with an immediate shot, but would be off target. In the 52
nd minute, the action turned in favor of the Flames. Receiving an over-the-top cross about 25 yards out from goal, Jaime was able to beat her defender and dribble into the box. With the Panther defender closing in on her, Jaime placed a perfectly timed cross in the path of
Katelyn Nardulli, who placed a right-footed, one-touch shot into the back of the net. With her first goal of the year, Nardulli gave the Flames an important 1-0 lead. With much of the half still left to play, the Panthers picked up the intensity, but the Flames' defense remained strong. Both teams would continue to take their opportunities, but saves by
Sara Sanabria and the Panthers' goalkeeper would keep the score the same. At the final whistle, the Flames remained on top, earning a 1-0 victory and a spot in postseason action.
The full box score and play-by-play recap can be found
here.
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT
With the victory, UIC has earned its way into the MVC Championship. The Flames take the No. 6 seed and will face the No. 3 seeded Indiana State Sycamores at 12:00 p.m. CT on Sunday in Terre Haute, Ind., at Memorial Stadium
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