Huskers Open with 3-1 Win Over Gophers

Lincoln - Goals from three different players propelled the Nebraska soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Minnesota in the season opener for both teams Friday afternoon at the Nebraska Soccer Field. The game marked the Huskers' first regular-season match on campus in school history and was played in front of a crowd of 1,021.

As she did in the Huskers' two exhibition matches, senior Nikki Baker scored quickly, finding the back of the net at the 12:11 mark of the first half. Following a corner kick from junior Brittany Timko, the ball came out of the box where junior Tanya Dennis sent a beautiful ball to junior Abby Penas, who found Baker in front of the net for the score.

In the 30th minute, freshman Lauren Isenhower notched her first career goal to push the Huskers' lead to 2-0. On a perfect through-ball from Dennis, Timko sent a shot on goal that was saved by Minnesota goalkeeper Molly Schneider. The ball then ricocheted off a Golden Gopher defender and a diving Isenhower beat Timko to the ball for the game-winning goal.

Minnesota answered back 6:28 later to pull within 2-1 heading into the half. Lindsey Schwartz made a long run and beat a Husker defender before firing a shot past NU junior goalkeeper Katie Wright.

Neither team scored again until nearly 40 minutes later, when Dennis capped a terrific night with her first goal of the season. Dennis, who was also celebrating her 20th birthday on Friday, split two defenders and sent a perfectly placed shot into the top corner of the net from 20 yards out to give NU its final margin.

NU had two more excellent scoring chances in the second half. On the first chance, Isenhower sent a cross to Timko, whose shot sailed high. In the 88th minute, the freshmen combination of Isenhower and Aysha Jamani nearly connected on a fourth Husker goal. Isenhower again played a beautiful ball across the box to Jamani, who missed her shot attempt high.

For the game, NU outshot Minnesota 14-9 and placed eight shots on goal to only five by the Gophers. In net, Wright recorded four saves, while allowing just one Gopher goal. For Minneosta, Schneider recorded five saves. Nebraska also added six corner kicks to just one for Minnesota.

In addition to Isenhower's goal, the Huskers saw plenty of production from their freshman class. Five freshmen saw action, including Selenia Iacchelli who earned her first career start.

NU returns to action on Sunday when it hosts UAB at 1 p.m. at the Nebraska Soccer Field.