Nebraska Soccer Eyes Texas Teams

The No. 16 Nebraska soccer team prepares for its toughest weekend of the conference season when the Huskers play host to No. 4 Texas Friday at 7 p.m. and No. 8 Texas A&M Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Abbott Sports Complex.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The Huskers have not been beaten at home this season, going 4-0-2, with ties against current No. 1 North Carolina and Creighton.  Nebraska is 16-0-2 at the Abbott Sports Complex over the past two seasons, with their last loss coming to Connecticut in the 2000 NCAA Tournament.

 

Both Texas and Texas A&M derailed Nebraska's 2001 hopes for a Big 12 regular-season and Big 12 tournament crown.

 

The then-ranked No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies defeated the 11th-ranked Huskers, 3-2, in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament last season.  Nebraska, however, upended the Aggies, 4-2, in a regular season game in College Station, Texas.

 

Then-No. 20 Texas defeated the Huskers, 2-1, in regular-season play in Austin, Texas last season, and went on to take the Big 12 regular season crown when Nebraska tied Colorado.

 

Texas comes into Lincoln with a 6-2-1 overall record and 1-0-0 Big 12 mark. Texas' two losses have come against Stanford and North Carolina. The Longhorns dropped the game at Stanford, 1-0, and fell to the top-ranked Tar Heels, 3-2, in Austin.

 

UT opened Big 12 Conference action with a 7-0 shutout victory over Iowa State on Sunday.  The Longhorns' win marked their fourth shutout of the season, and kept them undefeated at home for the season.

 

Texas A&M is 7-3-0 on the season and opened its Big 12 season Friday with a 4-2 win over Iowa State.  The Aggies also posted an impressive 2-1 win over No. 15 Washington on Sunday.

 

TAMU's three losses have come against North Carolina, 4-1, California, 1-0, and Stanford, 1-0.  The Aggies will go to Colorado Friday night to take on the Buffaloes before traveling to Lincoln.

 

Emma Smith scored the game-winning goal for Texas A&M with four seconds remaining in the first overtime period Sunday against Washington.

 

Texas A&M's Linsey Woodard is near the top of the Big 12 stat sheets, ranking second with 17 points and eight goals on the season.

 

Nine of the 11 Preseason Big 12 players, voted on by the conference coaches, were from either Nebraska, Texas, or Texas A&M.

 

Both games will be broadcast live on KRNU 90.3 and www.Huskers.com.  Live stats will also be available via the internet on www.Huskers.com as well.  Click on the links above for both the radio broadcast and the live stats.