CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa women's soccer team scored a goal with just seven seconds remaining in the first half Thursday to tie the match and rallied for a second-half goal to top the visiting University of Evansville Purple Aces, 3-2, on a windy and rain-soaked day at the UNI Soccer Complex in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

The Panthers struck first in the opening minutes of the match, as UNI forward Lauren Heinsch took advantage of a howling wind to score on a cross that snuck inside the far post in the second minute to give UNI a 1-0 lead. 

Going into the wind in the first half, the Purple Aces were able to answer back just over 20 minutes later, as sixth-year midfielder Nicole Benati curled a shot underneath the crossbar from 17 yards out to tie the match at 1-1 in the 24th minute.  Freshman forward Brooklyn Robinson then buried a beautiful cross from fellow freshman Taylor Johnson into the upper-right corner in the 42nd minute to give UE a 2-1 advantage.

It looked like UE would take a 2-1 lead into the halftime locker room, but a failed clearance by UE got caught in the wind and blew back towards goal, and UNI's Ashley Harrington was able to score with seven seconds left in the half to tie the match at 2-2.

In the second half, UE maintained a majority of the possession with the wind at its back, but the Panthers were able to strike in the 62nd minute on a well-crafted shot by midfielder Olivia Knoepfle to grab a 3-2 lead.  Evansville would out-shoot UNI, 6-2, in the second half, with freshman midfielder Ella Hamner nearly tying the match in the 76th minute on a shot off the underside of the crossbar, but the Panthers would hold on to remain undefeated at 9-0-0 on their home field this year.

UNI out-shot Evansville for the match, 17-10, with 15 of those coming in the first half in a driving rain.  UE senior goalkeeper Myia Danek recorded big save after big save in the match to keep Evansville within striking distance, as she equaled a career-high with 10 saves.

With the victory, UNI remains near the top in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, as they improve to 12-2-1 overall and 5-2 in the Valley.  Evansville, meanwhile, sees its seven-match unbeaten streak snapped while falling to 1-4-8 and 1-1-5 in the Valley with the loss.  Evansville will continue on its two-match road trip through Iowa on Sunday, as the Purple Aces will travel to Des Moines to battle the Drake Bulldogs (8-3-3, 4-1-1 MVC).  The match will be the first-ever women's soccer match at Drake's new Mediacom Stadium, with kick-off set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.