FAYETTE, Iowa – A goal in the opening minutes proved to be the difference as University of Sioux Falls Soccer dropped a 1-0 decision at Upper Iowa University on Sunday afternoon. The Cougars fall to 4-6-2 on the season with a 3-4-2 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, placing them ninth with 11 points on the season.
Upper Iowa capitalized on an early USF miscue when Birgit Rjinders took a misplayed ball from USF and scored from the middle of the box just two minutes into the game. For the remainder of the first half, USF accrued a 6-4 advantage in shots and a 3-2 edge in shots on goal.
Morgan Lovato, who had a team-high three shots for the Cougars, put the first USF scoring attempt on frame a few minutes after surrendering the goal.
Lindsey Power put a free kick on goal in the 18th minute, but the UIU keeper was up to task. Lovato added another shot on goal in the 25th minute, the Cougars' final shot on goal in the first half while USF goalkeeper
Morgan Perkins made two saves in the final six minutes of the first period to keep USF within one goal.
Seeking an equalizer,
Becca Schmitz led an early second-half charge with a pair of shots immediately after halftime. Schmitz's first attempt missed just wide of the goal two minutes into the second period then had a shot from close range saved by the Peacock goalkeeper. Following Schmitz's near score, Perkins was put to test on the other end of the field.
In a seven minute span, Perkins made five saves to keep the Cougars trailing by just one goal. Following a UIU foul in the 72nd minute,
Alexandria Scott put a free kick on goal, USF's final shot on goal for the afternoon, and it was again stopped by the keeper.
In the closing stretches of the game, Perkins continued to keep the Cougars in the game. The USF junior made three saves in the final 15 minutes, but the Cougars couldn't find the equalizer and finished with a 1-0 loss.
USF continues their three-game road swing at St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 14 and 15, respectively.
