Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women’s soccer team scored four second half goals to down Minnesota State-Moorhead, 5-0, Sunday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.
The Lopers (3-0-1) have another undefeated weekend and will be home again as they host Western Colorado (Sept. 20) and Black Hills State, S.D. (Sept. 22). WCU is currently 1-3-0 and BHSU 0-2-2.
The five goals are the most scored by a UNK team in a game since the program began in 2009. The 2010 Lopers beat Colorado-Colorado Springs by a 6-2 count, but the tally included two own goals by UCCS. UNK also scored four goals in four different games between 2012-15.
“We have players that are hungry and that was part of the recruiting process. We want players who want the ball and who want to go forward,” said UNK head coach Rob Breton. “Sometimes that means having to get to the endline, sometimes that means a cross, sometimes that means setting up opportunities. Other times it means being a bit of demander, give me this and I’m going to go do it.”
Freshman Daniella Iaqunita (Aurora, Colo.) becomes the ninth different Loper to have two goals in a game when she found the back of the net at 57:33 and 61:27. The last player to have a two-goal effort was Ciera Clark in 2018 win at Missouri Southern.
“That second goal; my goodness what a turn and strike. For her, it’s about building that confidence and believing in herself and she’s now showing I can do it, I will go and do it,” said Breton.
Freshman Camrynn Nitta (Mililani, Hawai’i) literally beat the buzzer for the fifth goal as she scored with 21 seconds left. Sophomore Jordan Renard (Lincoln NE) got UNK on the board in the 26th minute when she turned and fired from about 20 yards out; it’s her second goal of the fall. Next, redshirt sophomore Rachel Warrick (Lincoln SE) recorded her first collegiate goal at 66:41 to make it 4-0.
The Dragons (0-3-1) came out breathing fire as they had the upper hand for about 20 minutes. They had the first two shots and UNK made a couple of early substitutions to stem the tide. The Lopers then controlled the rest of the half and game.
“The first 25 minutes we were extremely flat. We allowed them to punch us in the face a few times and it was almost like we were surprised they were going to do something like that,” said Breton. “I explained to the girls in the scouting report and the film session we did, this is a team that if you give them energy, they absorb it and utilize it. So, we got the water break, I was able to get under the skin of the players a little bit and you saw the reaction. Within three minutes we had the lead.”
In goal, sophomore Susan Bovaird (Lincoln East) and senior Mackenzie Smith (Lincoln H.S.) combined on the team’s third shutout of the fall. Bovaird had four saves and Smith one. Finally, eight players got off at least one shot paced by Renard (five) and Utah freshman Billie Forrest (three).
Loper soccer wins again
