Huskers Hang On for 3-2 Victory

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Ames, Iowa ? Sophomore Brittany Timko, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, tied a school record by scoring three goals in the first half, as Nebraska held on for a 3-2 win over IowaState on Sunday afternoon at the Iowa State Soccer Complex.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Timko’s goals came in a 2:18 span as Nebraska improved to 8-3 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference. IowaState dropped to 3-7 and 0-2. The Huskers are now 10-0 all-time against the Cyclones.

 

Timko put the Huskers up 1-0 at 24:14 on a great individual effort. She took the ball at midfield and dribbled past defenders to the top of the box, where she beat ISU goalkeeper Jo Haig to her left. The goal marked her fifth straight game with a goal.

 

Timko added another goal just 16 seconds later when she collected a pass from junior Vern Fitzgerald in the box and beat Haig high from 10 yards out. The 16 seconds between goals was a school record, eclipsing the previous record of 20 seconds, set against Arkansas-Little Rock in 2000.

 

Timko collected her hat trick at 26:32. Nebraska had several looks from inside the box, and Timko found the back of the net from point blank range off an assist from freshman Sari Raber. Her third goal of the game was also the game winner, marking the second consecutive game Timko has scored the game-winning goal.  She also scored all four of Nebraska's goals in a pair of Big 12 Conference wins, including NU's 1-0 win over No. 8 Kansas in Lawrence on Friday night.

 

In a dominating first-half effort, NU outshot the Cyclones, 9-1, and recorded six corner kicks to ISU’s two.

 

Iowa State got on the board 12:24 into the second half on a goal by Katie Kirwan off an assist from Kristina Baumann.

 

The Cyclones added another goal with 3:08 remaining in the game as Brittanie Waddell scored off assists from Erin Witte and Kirwan.

 

Looking to tie the game, ISU was awarded a penalty kick with 2:08 remaining, but Deb Benakis’ try bounced off the crossbar to seal Nebraska’s eighth victory of the season.

 

In goal, sophomore Katie Wright made six saves. Haig made three saves for the Cyclones

 

After playing five games in 10 days, the Huskers get a bit of a break this week. Nebraska’s only game of the week is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. against Missouri in Columbia.