UNI set another program record when they tallied five consecutive wins. The Panthers posted a 3-1 victory over California State University-Bakersfield, a 2-0 victory over Indiana State, a 1-0 victory over Evansville, a 2-0 victory at South Dakota, and a 2-0 win over St. Ambrose. The longest previous winning streak was four wins set during the 2003 season.
Four Panthers earned All-Missouri Valley Conference Honors for their play during the conference slate. Junior midfielder Melissa Hagan and sophomore defender Sam Copley each took home Second Team MVC honors while senior defender Missy Journot earned Honorable Mention All-MVC. Freshman forward Caitlyn Fuller was named to the All-Freshman team.
UNI's record of 2-4-0 in conference play was enough to put them into the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament for just the fifth time in program history. The Panthers made appearances during the 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004 seasons with their lone win coming during the 2002 campaign when they posted a 2-0 win over Missouri State. UNI was tabbed with the 6th-seed and traveled to face the No. 3-seeded Creighton Bluejays in Omaha, Neb. The Panthers earned the victory over Creighton on penalty kicks, 5-3, after 110 minutes of scoreless soccer. UNI was defeated 2-1 in the semifinals of the MVC tournament in overtime by the hosts and no. 2-seeded Missouri State Bears.
Seniors Megan Cameron and Kala Negus each took home MVC Tournament honors for their play in the tournament. Each played every minute of the Panther's two matches in the tournament. Cameron notched a goal in the Panthers 2-1 loss to Missouri State. The duo held the No. 3-seeded Creighton Bluejays scoreless for 110 minutes en route to the 5-3 win during penalty kicks.
Senior goalkeeper Lauren Potzman and sophomore goalkeeper Erin Zaideman combined for seven shutouts during the 2011 season. The seven shutouts in a single season was a program first. Zaideman saw most of the action in goal as she recorded 1031 minutes posting three shutouts. Potzman saw action in 897 minutes and posted one shutout. The duo combined to post three shutouts on the season.
Missy Journot and Erin Zaideman each were tabbed with MVC players of the week during the regular season. Journot earned the honor for her play against California State University-Bakersfield and Indiana State. She tallied one goal and three assists in the two matches. Zaideman earned goalkeeper of the week for her play against Evansville. She held the Purple Aces scoreless, turning away four shots, en route to a 1-0 UNI victory. Zaideman also earned MVC Scholar Athlete of the week for the week of Oct. 10-16.
Head Coach James Price tallied his 100th career victory in a 1-0 triumph over Evansville on Oct. 15th. The win came in the midst of a five game winning streak.
Junior Ashley Capone led the UNI offense during the 2011 season with 10 points. Capone led the team with four goals on the season and tallied two assists. Missy Journot recorded eight points on two goals and a team-best four assists while teammate Melissa Hagan posted eight points of her own on three goals and two assists and led the team in shots on goal with 16. Sophomore Claire Clark chipped in with seven points on three goals and one assist. Junior Kiki McClellan fired a team-best 37 shots with 13 coming on goal for the Panthers.
The 2011 Panthers featured a line-up of seven seniors, four juniors, nine sophomores, and eight freshmen. Seven players saw action in all 21 games for UNI; senior Megan Cameron, juniors Kiki McClellan, Melissa Hagan, and Ashley Capone, sophomores Allie Brees and Sam Copley, and freshman Caitlyn Fuller. Seniors Kala Negus and Missy Journot and sophomore Grace Schield recorded minutes in 20 games for the Panthers.
UNI will return a plethora of experience for the 2012 campaign as they will look to return to the MVC tournament for the sixth time in school history.
