Timko Leads Huskers Past Sooners

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? Behind a pair of goals from junior Brittany Timko the <?xml:namespace prefix="u1"?>Nebraska soccer team posted a key 2-1 victory over Oklahoma in the race for the Big 12 title on Friday in front of a national television audience at the Nebraska Soccer Field. The game was 1-1 at the half before Timko gave the Huskers the win with her second goal of the game at 78:26.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

With the win, NU improved to 10-5-1 on the season, marking the 12th consecutive season the Huskers have posted at least 10 victories. Nebraska also earned three points and improved to 4-2-1 in the Big 12.

 

Oklahoma fell to 12-4-1 overall and 4-3-1 in league play.

 

Nebraska controlled play in the first half and struck first with Timko winning the ball and making a great individual effort to clear space and fire a shot from 25 yards out that found the top of the net at 11:02.

 

In the 15th minute, Timko nearly provided an assist when her corner kick found freshman Selenia Iacchelli on a far-post run, but Iacchelli’s header missed wide.

 

In the 25th minute, OU had its first quality scoring chance when Tenesha Duncan made a long run and fired a shot from inside the box that was saved, but not controlled by NU freshman goalkeeper Jamie Klages. The Sooners had a chance on the rebound but fired a shot wide.

 

The Huskers had a flurry of chances in the 32nd minute. After a Timko corner kick, the ball remained in the box where Iacchelli and fellow freshman Lauren Isenhower each had shots blocked from inside 10 yards and sophomore Jessie Bruch fired a shot on goal that was cleared by the OU backline.

 

With NU controlling the tempo, OU capitalized on a breakaway counterattack to produce the Sooners’ lone goal just 2:09 before the half. Andrea Hurley played a through-ball to a sprinting Savannah Scott from Nebraska’s half of the field. Scott found herself with a one-on-one opportunity and fired a shot past Klages from eight yards out to knot the score at 1-1.

 

In the first 45 minutes, NU outshot Oklahoma, 15-7 and won six corner kicks while limiting the Sooners to just three.

 

The second half was more even, but Timko’s goal proved to be the lone goal of the half. In the 79th minute, freshman Aysha Jamani took a pass from junior Tanya Dennis and sent a perfect cross into the box that Timko headed past OU goalkeeper Jennifer Nichols on the near post.

 

For the game, Nebraska outshot Oklahoma, 19-7, but the Sooners owned a 6-5 edge in shots on goal. In net for the Huskers, Klages made five saves, while Nichols recorded two saves for the Sooners.

 

Timko’s second goal marked her first multi-goal game of the season after recording four multi-goal games in 2004. In her career, Timko has tallied six multi-goal games and moved into a tie for sixth place on the NU career chart with teammate Nikki Baker.

 

Timko's second goal also marked the 25th goal of her career, making her just the 10th player in school history to reach the 25-goal mark. Her 25 career goals and 28 career assists also make the Coquitlam, British Columbia, native one of only five players in school history to record 25 goals and 25 assists in a career.

 

With her four-point effort, Timko reached 80 points for her career, one of only 10 players in the 12-year history of Nebraska soccer to accomplish the mark.

 

Timko and the Huskers continue their pursuit for a Big 12 title with another key match against OklahomaState on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Nebraska Soccer Field.