Huskers Work OT for Win over Sooners

Lincoln - Jessie Bruch provided the game-winning goal in the 104th minute, giving the Nebraska soccer team a 2-1 win over Oklahoma Friday night in front of 665 fans at the Abbott Sports Complex. The win improves the Huskers record to 9-3-1 on the season and 4-1-0 in Big 12 play, while Oklahoma fell to 7-4-2 and 2-2-1 in the conference.

"We had many players that showed good character tonight," Coach John Walker said. "They hung in there and it was just a matter of time. We did a lot of good things tonight."

Nebraska dominated possession in the first half, but the work went unrewarded with a 0-0 tie at the intermission. The Huskers posted 18 shots in the first half to Oklahoma's one.

The Sooners quickly proved that it only takes one good look to put up a score, when Becky Nelson scored on the Sooners' first shot on goal of the game, and only their second shot of the night to take a 1-0 advantage at the 57:50 mark.

Nebraska continued to fight back in a second half that was full of physical play. Junior Lindsey Ingram was fouled by a Sooner defender in the box and was awarded her first penalty kick of the season, and after shaking off the injury, calmly placed the ball in the back of the net to knot the score at 1-1 with just under 20 minutes remaining in regulation

The two teams battled it out, but couldn't determine a winner during the regulation period. Through the first overtime, Nebraska posted one shot on goal and Oklahoma had a few good looks, but only got one shot off in the 10-minute period.

The game looked like it would end in a tie when Bruch got a great ball in the box and took a solid shot, but OU goalkeeper Catherine Wade made a save that was reflected back to Bruch. She took the deflection and launched it past the keeper for the win at the 103:43 mark.

"I just chipped it over the goalie, and she deflected it in," Bruch said. "We've been practicing really hard and it paid off. All of the fitness really paid off tonight."

Bruch led the Huskers with nine shots and five on goal in the contest and her goal was her fifth of the season, tying fellow freshman Ashley Carter for the team lead in goals.

"Jessie is a really good player," Walker said. "She had a lot of chances in the box, and she is a good finisher."

The NU defense played a stellar game, with good play from Katie Bunkers, Jenna Cooper, Ingram and Aly Scace the entire contest.

Offensively, the Huskers got their fair share of shots, posting 42 shots and 20 shots on goal for the game, compared to Oklahoma's six shots, with only two being on goal.

NU goalkeeper Brooke Bredenberg picked up her eighth win of the season, posting an 8-2-1 record on the season. Wade allowed two goals and made 18 saves on the game, and dropped to 7-4-1.

Nebraska will take the day off on Sunday, but will return to the field at the Abbott Sports Complex next weekend for their final homestand of the regular season. NU will play host to Oklahoma State Friday at 7 p.m. and Kansas at 1 p.m. Sunday.