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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Soccer Celebration
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications
1
Fort Hays St. FHSU (7-7-4, 4-6-2)
2
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK (8-5-5, 4-5-3)
Fort Hays St. FHSU
(7-7-4, 4-6-2)
1
Final
2
Neb.-Kearney UNK
(8-5-5, 4-5-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Fort Hays St. FHSU 0 1 1
Neb.-Kearney UNK 1 1 2

Next Game:

at Missouri Western

11/10/2024 | 12 p.m.

KLPR Radio 91.1

Next Game

Full Schedule
Nov. 10 (Sun) / 12 p.m.
at Missouri Western
History

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Historic Win Helps Lopers Punch Postseason Ticket for the First Time in Nine Years

Story Links

Kearney, Neb. – Junior Hanna Schimmer scored twice, setting a new single season goals record, and the defense was feisty to help Nebraska Kearney beat Fort Hays State, 2-1, Wednesday night at Cope Stadium.

The Lopers (8-5-5, 4-5-3) were aiming to reach the MIAA Tournament for the first time since 2015 and to end a 13-game losing streak to the rival Tigers (7-7-4, 4-6-2). UNK came in with 12 league points, needing a win (three points) to vault both Pittsburg State and Emporia State (14 points apiece) to make the eight-team tourney.
 
Hanna Schimmer
Single-season goal record holder Hanna Schimmer

They are now the seventh seed and face second-seed and 21st-ranked Missouri Western State (14-1-3, 9-1-2) Sunday at noon in St. Joseph. The winner advances to Wichita for the semifinals the following weekend. The Griffons posted a 1-0 win against UNK on Oct. 18 after scoring in the 81st minute. 

"It's a weight off. Relief. Appreciation. And unlimited amounts of joy," said UNK head coach Rob Breton. "I can't express how proud I am … that's a team. What a group."

On a blustery night at Foster Field, Schimmer (Council Bluffs, Ia.) got the Lopers on the board five minutes in as senior Ivana Siles (Boliva) found her in the box with a long ball from the wing. That is her ninth goal, tying the mark set by lefty Raliegh Mercer in 2013.

"That was a huge piece for us. Being able to go up early and set the tone and being able to control it. You could see for the rest of the night they were trying to play catch up," said Breton. "It was such a big step for us in the right direction."

Hays had all seven corners in the game with lefty Gracen Chaney placing the ball in front of the Loper goal almost every time. Additionally, she and her teammates kept sophomore keeper Susan Bovaird (Lincoln East) busy in both halves with multiple shots from a long distance.2024 MIAA Tourney Logo

"They were pressing us heavy and really making us work for it. Since the Missouri Western game, our defense has stepped up across the board," said Breton. "They made every game available, and told the offense go do your job. In this program's history, the defense has always been resounding and now the offense is finally rewarding consistently for them."

Early in the second half, freshman Daniella Iaquinta (Aurora, Colo.) found Schimmer free on the left wing and she promptly made it 2-0 and set the record. However, just six minutes later, Hays finally struck pay dirt on a corner as reserve Montserrat Diaz headed in ball initially struck by Chaney.

"We want Hanna to get balls in front of the goal but any of our forwards can score in that situation (first goal). Ivana played an absolutely phenomenal cross, recognized the right moment and Hanna capitalized. And then she did it again," said Breton. "After they scored, no one dropped their heads, stopped or gave up. We responded very well."

UNK almost made it 3-1 down the stretch as Schimmer and sophomore Jordan Renard (Lincoln NE) had shots just go wide of the net. Overall, Hays had a 12-7 advantage in shots on goal with Bovaird having 11 saves. Schimmer (four) and Iaquinta (two) combined for six shots with UNK's season total (249) a new school record. The team also has set a new mark for shots on goal with 126 with the wins total the tied for the second most. The 2012 Lopers went 9-7-2.

"To do this against a team like Hays who has been nationally-ranked two years in a row, who has gone to the national tournament the past two years … now we're not just the eighth seed but seventh," said Breton.
 
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Players Mentioned

Jordan Renard

#14 Jordan Renard

F
5' 8"
Sophomore
Sporting Nebraska FC
Ivana Siles

#13 Ivana Siles

F
5' 2"
Senior
Club Bolívar
Daniella Iaquinta

#6 Daniella Iaquinta

F
5' 9"
Freshman
05/06 Rapids South ECRL
Hanna Schimmer

#17 Hanna Schimmer

F
5' 8"
Junior
NFC Roja

Players Mentioned

Jordan Renard

#14 Jordan Renard

5' 8"
Sophomore
Sporting Nebraska FC
F
Ivana Siles

#13 Ivana Siles

5' 2"
Senior
Club Bolívar
F
Daniella Iaquinta

#6 Daniella Iaquinta

5' 9"
Freshman
05/06 Rapids South ECRL
F
Hanna Schimmer

#17 Hanna Schimmer

5' 8"
Junior
NFC Roja
F