UNK Soccer Earns Point in Scoreless Draw

KEARNEY – The Nebraska Kearney soccer team picked up its second point of the weekend, battling Northwest Missouri State to a scoreless draw Sunday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

On Friday night, the Lopers (1-7-2, 0-1-2) tied Missouri Western, 1-1. This is UNK’s first league weekend without a setback since late in the 2019 campaign (win over Northeastern State, tie with Rogers State).

Winds blowing 20 to 25 miles per hour out of the South effected play with Northwest (3-3-3, 0-2-1) having the advantage in the first half and the Lopers having the gusts at their back over the final 45.

To now be 3-4-4 all-time against Northwest, UNK got six saves from Lincoln freshman keeper Susie Bovaird. The Lopers also dodged a bullet when a penalty kick sailed high midway through the second half.

“(The wind) definitely affected us in the first half because we had to change the way we were defending, just to be prepared for the type of balls they were playing with the weather,” said UNK head coach Rob Breton. “It’s not often you seen back-to-back PKs missed (UNK had one Friday night). Neither were saves from the keeper; they were just misplaced.”

Bolivian junior Ivana Siles, who tied Friday night’s game with a second half goal, almost was the hero again but a last-minute shot attempt from the left box sailed high over the far corner of the ‘Cats goal. She had two of UNK’s seven shots with Wyoming senior Raegan Downham, Lincoln sophomore Corynne Olsen and Colorado sophomore Kea Barnes each having a SOG.

“The wind was supposed to help us in the second half but I don’t think it did as much as we would’ve liked it to,” said Breton. “We kind of relied on it rather than utilize it and it took away our ability to play effectively. But, they couldn’t play the way they wanted to either in the second half.”

Northwest keeper Lily Ellis recorded three saves with junior Adell Gore (three), Margaret Madden (two) and Ekaterina Theoharidis (two) combining for seven shots, four on goal. Finally, Loper vets Dolcie Hanlon (Fruita, Colo.) and Lily Engeman (Olathe, Kan.) went all 90 minutes.

“This is a great start for us. We already have as many conference points as we did all of last year,” said Breton. “And we’re home again next weekend with two more opportunities at results.”

UNK hosts Central Oklahoma and Newman next weekend.