Huskers Win Season Opener

Minneapolis, Minn. -- The fifth-ranked Nebraska soccer team got the 2000 season off on the right foot, defeating Minnesota, 4-0, Friday evening in Minneapolis, Minn.

The Huskers, 1-0 on the season, scored a pair of goals in the first 10 minutes of the match to take control against the Golden Gophers. NU took a 1-0 on a goal that hit a UM defender and bounced past Gopher keeper Julie Eibensteiner just 6:27 into the match. The Huskers, who are 4-0 against Minnesota, increased the lead to 2-0 on an unassisted goal from Shannon Tanaka at the 8:12 mark.

While the Husker defense kept the pressure on, All-American Karina LaBlanc made five saves in recording her first shutout of the year. Christine Latham and Kelly Rheem added second-half goals for the final margin.

The Huskers play host to Arkansas-Little Rock this Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Abbot Sports Complex (1 1/2 miles north of 70th and Cornhusker Highway