West Central Reporter

CEDAR FALLS, IA - After a three-nil loss to start the season against Iowa State, Western Illinois Women's Soccer returned to Iowa on Sunday as they took on Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. The Panthers played a dominant first half, scoring five goals in the first 36 minutes of action, leading them to a win.

The Leatherneck offense threatened early, drawing a corner not 30 seconds into the match. Kayla Turner whipped a ball into Alanna Pennington, who attempted to head one towards the back post but just missed. Shortly after, the Panthers started their offensive barrage, scoring in the fifth minute to make it one-nil.

The Panther offense put another in the 13th minute, making it two-nil, a near repeat of Thursday evening's game against Iowa State. Hana Daoudi had a good chance to get one back in the 23rd minute as she launched one from about 22 yards out, but her attempt was calmly saved.

Northern Iowa kept the pressure on, scoring two goals in four minutes to make it four-nil just 29 minutes in. They added a fifth before the break and threatened to score more before the half-time whistle was called but were kept at five.

In the second half, freshman keeper Ariel Bernard entered for Navas Rodriguez. Bernard did well in the second half, saving four attempts without allowing a goal in 45 minutes of work.

Western Illinois junior transfer Callie McMurtrey put the Leathernecks on the board for the first time in 2024 in the 56th minute. Attacking from the left side, Rachel Balinao did well to put McMurtrey into open space just outside the box, and she took one touch before firing a rocket into the back of the net to make it five-one, which held until the final whistle.

Western Illinois will get a 10-day break before their next match against South Dakota State in Macomb on August 29.