Niedermeier's Ninth Goal Lifts UNT to Road Win

Sunday, September 13

Chicago, IL

1 PM

University of North Texas

4-3-1, 0-0-0

DePaul

3-2-2, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
North Texas	1	0	1
DePaul	0	0	0

9/13/2026 3:37:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

CHICAGO — UNT head coach John Hedlund and his team knew exactly what was waiting for them on Sunday in The Windy City.

In the Mean Green's final non-conference match before beginning American Conference play on Thursday, they had to deal with a DePaul side that had given up just four goals through six games and played a physical brand of defensive soccer on its turf home field nestled in the middle of downtown Chicago.

Consider that test passed.

UNT fought to a 1-0 victory over the Blue Demons (3-2-2) to pick up its second straight win, thanks to a converted penalty kick from junior forward Claire Niedermeier in the 20th minute, and the defense stood firm the entire day to earn a third shutout victory of the season.

"We knew this was going to be a tough game," Hedlund said. "They're a senior-heavy team that prioritizes defense and plays a physical game on their turf field. I'm incredibly proud of our entire group — you could see the sheer determination on their faces to keep a clean sheet and do whatever it took to earn a big road win against a solid Big East opponent."

UNT (4-3-1) managed just 13 shots on the day, but outshot the Blue Demons 13-10, while fifth-year goalkeeper Sarah Margaret Seabrook only needed to make one save in her second clean sheet of the season.

The Mean Green got the game-winner in the 20th minute when junior Rydlii Rives made a run into the box and was tripped up by a DePaul defender. The referee initially awarded a free kick just outside the box but Hedlund challenged the call and video review proved Rives was fouled inside the box to earn the penalty kick.

That's when Niedermeier stepped up and buried her second PK of the season into the bottom left corner of the goal as DePaul's keeper dove right. That marked her ninth goal of the season and continued her torrid goal-scoring pace, as she now has nine goals in eight matches this season.

The Mean Green will now return home to John Hedlund Field to open American Conference play this Thursday at 7 p.m., against South Florida (2-4-1), who was off on Sunday after a 2-2 home draw against Mercer on Thursday.

For more information on UNT Soccer tickets, contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or at ticketoffice @unt.edu. Fans can visit the UNT Athletics Ticket Office located at Gate 2 of DATCU Stadium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For those interested in purchasing group tickets (10 or more), visit here for more information.