CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – In a crucial match for the MVC Tournament picture, Brielle LaBerge (Cumming, Ga./Forsyth Central) and Brooklyn Robinson (West Haven, Utah/Fremont) scored two goals in the span of two minutes to power the University of Evansville women’s soccer team to a crucial 2-0 win over Northern Iowa on Thursday afternoon.
Allie Lammers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) had a big day in goal for the Aces, making a career-high seven saves to post her fifth clean sheet of the season. The five shutouts are the most in a single season by an Aces keeper since Myia Danek in 2023.
UNI controlled play in the first half, putting up 10 shots, but Lammers made four saves to keep the match scoreless heading into the break.
The Purple Aces’ attack got rolling in the second half, with LaBerge creating a scoring chance in the 56th minute. The sophomore put a long range shot off the crossbar, but the loose ball was corralled by the Aces in the box and a shot deflected off the hand of a Panthers’ defender to earn a penalty kick. LaBerge stepped to the penalty spot and snuck a shot under the UNI keeper for her first collegiate goal, giving the Aces a 1-0 lead.
Two minutes later, the Aces generated another chance when Ella McAndrew (Greendale, Ind./Lawrenceburg) collected a ball just outside the top of the box. From there, McAndrew passed to Robinson, who struck a right-footed laser over a leaping keeper and into the back of the net. The goal was her third of the season, doubling the Evansville advantage.
From there, Lammers and the Evansville defense held strong to maintain the shutout. Lammers made three saves in the final ten minutes, including a diving stop in the 89th minute to put a bow on a career day.
“This was a great team win,” said Head Coach Chris Pfau. “What has been impressive with this group and why I love this team so much is that they have every right to frustated after Murray State, they’re on the road, didn’t play the best, and they come back on the road again and I think the reason we win that game is because of how close everybody is.”
“This is a team that had to stick together, we had some injuries and moved some people around, and everybody stepped up in a big way.”
“To get a 2-0 win on the road is great, it keeps us in the mix of things and speaks volumes to the way this team is going and the character of our players. I’m very impressed – good result for us.”
With the win, Evansville moves to 7-5-2 overall and 3-3-1 in MVC play, sitting in a tie for second place in the conference standings entering tonight’s MVC action with seven points. UE remains in Iowa on Sunday, taking on league-leading Drake. Kick-off is set for 2 PM
