Bruch Honored as Big 12 Soccer Newcomer of the Week

Lincoln, Neb. ? Nebraska freshman Jessie Bruch earned Big 12 Soccer Newcomer-of-the-Week honors after her game-winning heroics over the last two weeks, the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon.

 

Bruch provided the game-winning goal last Friday night in Nebraska’s 3-2 win over Oklahoma State. Bruch’s goal cam with just five seconds remaining in regulation.

 

The freshman from St. Louis, Mo., took a sensational pass from junior Lindsey Ingram and buried her shot to give the Huskers the victory over the Cowgirls.

 

One week earlier, Bruch also came up big for the Nebraska soccer team, notching the game-winning goal in the second overtime period against Oklahoma. Bruch’s initial shot was deflected straight back to her by the Sooner goalkeeper, before she slid her second chance past the keeper and clinched the win for NU.

 

Bruch is just one point behind fellow freshman Ashley Carter on the Nebraska scoring charts, with 13 points on six goals and one assist. Bruch leads the team in shots with 61 and has collected three game-winning goals on the season.

 

Carter also garnered Big 12 Newcomer-of-the-Week honors on Sept. 30, and NU goalkeeper Brooke Bredenberg was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week in the opening week of the season.

 

Missouri’s Melissa Peabody was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, and Texas’ Alex Gagarin was the league’s Defensive Player of the Week.

 

Peabody, a junior forward, scored seven points in Missouri’s win over then-No. 4 Texas A&M, the Tigers’ first conference win of the season. The St. Louis, Mo., native recorded a hat trick, including the game-tying and game-winning goals. She also dished out an assist in the Tigers’ 5-4 come-from-behind victory.

 

Gagarin, a junior goalkeeper, surrendered only one goal in Texas’ two conference wins last weekend. Against Missouri, the Austin, Texas, native faced 11 shots and turned away all but one while making a season-best six saves. Gagarin recorded her second shutout of the year and made four saves in UT’s victory over Iowa State.

 

The Huskers travel Texas A&M on Friday and Texas on Sunday.