Huskers Romp Iowa 3-0 With Help of Freshmen

Lincoln - The Nebraska soccer team posted a 3-0 win over Iowa Sunday night with goals from three underclassmen in front of a crowd of 661 fans at the Abbott Sports Complex.

"I thought tonight was much better," Coach John Walker said. "We played with a lot more composure. We are still no where near full strength, but we definitely played better."

Sophomore Kari Hogan notched her first goal of the season and her second career goal just 4:15 into the game, when she took a corner kick from Jenna Cooper and blasted a shot that nicked the head of an Iowa player and sailed into the net past the hands of goalkeeper Britta Vogele.

The Huskers continued to pressure the Hawkeyes, when freshman Ashley Tenn took a quick pass from Ashley Carter and turned it in for NU's second goal of the evening just a minute and 32 seconds later.

Iowa started to make a push, winning possession for four shots on goal in the remaining 39 minutes of the half.

The two teams battled throughout the second half and Nebraska got the offense revved up, posting 17 shots and 12 shots on goal for the half.

Freshman Jessie Bruch put the final ball in the net in the 73rd minute off of another Cooper corner kick. Cooper sent the ball to the far side of the box where it bounced and found Bruch's head for the header into the right side of the net for her second career goal.

"I think there I some talent (among the freshmen), there is no question," Walker said. "They are playing well and building up their confidence. In the long run we are going to be a much better team."

Nebraska controlled the tempo of the game, forcing 29 shots with 15 shots on goal. Iowa made a few solid attempts with 13 total shots and eight on goal.

The Husker goalkeepers played an outstanding game, with Brooke Bredenberg making six saves on the evening and freshman Katie Wright recording two. Bredenberg notched her second shutout of the season, after holding DePaul without a goal on Friday night.

Vogele was busy all night long in the Iowa goal, posting 11 saves. The Hawkeyes also recorded one team save on the evening.

The Huskers dominated Iowa's half of the field, winning 14 corner kicks to Iowa's one.

Nebraska (2-0-0) travels to the North Carolina Invitational next weekend, where it faces Duke Friday, Sept. 5, and No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 7. The Huskers will not return home to the Abbott Sports Complex until Sept. 19 when they will take on Mississippi State.