CEDAR FALLS - A move closer to home didn't bring the Northern Iowa soccer team any closer to its first win of the season.

After playing their home matches at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex in Waterloo for several seasons, the Panthers were back on campus Sunday for a 2-0 loss to Iowa State at the Mark Messersmith Track and Field Complex.

UNI held tight with its in-state rival for much of the match, but two late goals by Cyclone junior Amanda Nimtz dropped the Panthers to 0-4-1 for the season while evening ISU's record at 2-2.

"They're a Big 12 team that's very physical," said Panther coach Jen Plante. "They're tough kids, fast kids, and we have to learn to battle. I think our youthfulness comes out against teams like this."

Nimtz broke a scoreless tie in the 74th minute, taking a crossing pass from Lauren Odino and banging it home from short range for her first goal of the season.

"(Nimtz) is a great forward who's had some issues finishing, so it was great to see her come out today and kind of get that monkey off her back," said Cyclone coach Wendy Dillinger.

Nimtz made the most of her next opportunity, too, taking a feed from Leslie Hill for a wide-open goal that effectively put the game away at the 83:10 mark.

Opportunities were harder to come by for UNI, which managed just three shots on goal for the match, and none in the first half.

"We didn't counter," said Plante. "Part of it is that we sat back and defended from the start.

"I think we have to change that mentality, where we start to attack and make them change their system as opposed to just defending all the time."

Northern Iowa's defense caught a couple of significant breaks to keep the Cyclones off the scoreboard in the first half.

In the 28th minute, a hard shot by ISU's Tori Johnson banged off the crossbar and caromed right to teammate Mary Kate McLaughlin, but Panther keeper Lauren Potzman was in position to make the save at point-blank range.

At the end of the half, Cyclone midfielder Elise Reid thought she had scored the go-ahead goal, but the score was waved off when officials determined that time had expired. "We were already celebrating and everything," said Reid. "It's frustrating, but I guess that's something that can happen."

The lack of a scoreboard and visible game clock are, for the time being, drawbacks as the Messersmith complex undergoes the transformation to a soccer facility, but the Panthers welcomed the opportunity to play on a true home field.

"I really like playing on campus," said UNI junior Jana Teague. "The school has put a lot of work into this field, and we really appreciate it. It brings a lot more fans in, so that's nice."

The Panthers will be back at the Cedar Valley Complex, though, to host Iowa Friday. Another intrastate game, and another large-school opponent, should help toughen the Panthers for the Missouri Valley Conference season, Plante said.

"Every game we've gotten better," Plante said. "We're preparing for conference, and I think we'll be ready by then."

Contact Brian Pals at brian.pals@wcfcourier.com