The University of Northern Iowa provided just what the Jackrabbits’ soccer team needed over the weekend: confidence.

The Jacks wasted no time in putting a pounding to Northern Iowa Sept. 16 at Fishback Soccer Park, finding the back of the net four times in the first half against a leaky defense to win by a 4-0 score.

SDSU’s win snaps a string of six matches without a win for the Jackrabbits, including five losses. Junior Darci Miller said the stretch was frustrating, mainly because the Jackrabbits were in each of those matches.

“It was frustrating,” Miller said. “We knew we could play better and it was just a matter of executing and doing our jobs to help the team. It was nice to turn it around and score some goals today.”

SDSU (2-5-1) wasted no time getting on the board during the Sunday matinee when Alyssa Brazil scored in the third minute, finding the back of the net after a scrum in front of the net and setting the tone for the day.

The Jackrabbits played in the UNI end for most of the first half and added to their lead in decisive fashion during a span of 7:21 in the first half. In the 27th minute, Miller scored an unassisted goal to put the Jackrabbits ahead, 2-0.

Miller’s effort was followed 87 seconds later by Diana Potterveld, who tapped in her second goal of the season on a cross from Caylee Costello for a 3-0 lead.

In the 34thminute, Stacy Guijarro helped to salt away the game with a bullet from near the edge of the box to put SDSU ahead by four goals heading to halftime and leaving UNI in its dust.

“It was nice to finally score some goals,” SDSU head coach Lang Wedemeyer said. “We’ve been struggling in that category through the whole season – we’ve played well but we just haven’t been able to finish.”

Aside from 57th minute yellow card issued to Delaney Ratcliffe, the second half went off without a hitch for SDSU, who drew 11 shots in the game after playing much more conservatively in the final 45 minutes of the match. The win moved SDSU to 4-0-3 against UNI in seven all-time matches against the Panthers.

Aside from Miller’s goal, all SDSU’s goals came from newcomers, which could be a welcoming sign for a team that remains young.

“We’re coming along and we’re just trying to contribute as much as we can to make our team better each match,” Potterveld said.

Elisa Stamatakis had made three stops when the Panthers veered near the goal, maintaining her clean sheet and picking up her second win of the season.

“We are definitely playing better and better every contest, regardless of some of the previous results,” Wedemeyer said. “We’ve still got a ways to go to play as a mature team, but we’re making progress.”