Baker's Heroics Lift NU to 2-1 Win over Kansas

Lawrence, Kan. - The Nebraska soccer team used a superb effort and timely shots by senior Brooke Bredenberg and junior Nikki Baker to defeat the No. 8 national seed Kansas, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and advance to the Sweet 16 for the eighth time in nine seasons.

Baker provided the heroics with a game-winning goal 4:19 into the first overtime period. The Huskers will now play Illinois, a 2-1 winner over No. 7 Texas A&M, in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. 

"I thought the key to the game for us was just being able to score," NU Head Coach John Walker said. "We knew that our depth would be a factor. Soccer is not a sport that is conducive to turning around and playing again in 48 hours.

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"The fact that we could get out and score early kept us in the game, and I thought we did very well in the first half. In the second half they [Kansas] dominated for two reasons - one, because they [Kansas] are a terrific team, and two, we could hang on and get into the extra time."

 

Bredenberg put the Huskers up 1-0 at 27:03 with a brilliant free kick from about 30 yards out. Following a Kansas foul, Bredenberg set up her free kick from the center of the field and sent a perfect ball on goal. KU goalkeeper Meghan Miller was able to deflect the shot off the post, but could not keep it from going in as Bredenberg connected on her fifth goal of the season and first since Oct. 17.

 

Leading 1-0 at halftime, Nebraska saw Kansas come out aggressively in the second half and tie the game in the 68th minute on a goal by Jessica Smith off an assist from Rachel Gilfillan.

 

The Huskers showed great heart to withstand several late Jayhawk flurries and force overtime. In the first extra period, sophomore Abby Penas sent a great long ball to Baker, who beat Miller from 30 yards with a perfectly placed shot that just grazed the crossbar before sailing into the back of the net.

 

Baker's goal was her second consecutive game-winning goal and was her fifth of the season, tying her for sixth place on the Nebraska single-season record list.

 

"We were working hard and wanted to go at them hard for the first four minutes of overtime and give all we had," Baker said. "Abby [Penas] played a good ball and I had a chance and took it."

 

In goal, sophomore Katie Wright highlighted an outstanding performance by the Nebraska defense by recording nine saves, one shy of her career high and one shy of the NU NCAA Tournament single-game record. Her nine saves gave her 101 saves on the season, making her just the second goalkeeper in school history to record more than 100 saves in a season.

 

For the game, the Husker defense withstood 27 shots - and 10 on goal - from the Jayhawks, while the offense was able to convert 2-of-3 shots on goal against Miller, a first-team All-Big 12 selection.

 

With the win, Nebraska improved to 14-8 on the season, while Kansas saw its season end with an 18-5 record.

 

"We dominated, had the ball most of the game, most of the opportunities and most of the shots and they still won the game," KU Head Coach Mark Francis said. "That's how they are. No matter what you do they don't go away. John (Walker) does an incredible job getting them emotionally fired up and ready to play and getting the most out of his players. (Nikki Baker) hits an unbelievable, once in a lifetime shot, but she made it. That's something that we needed but weren't able to do."