Missed Chances Cost Huskers

Several near misses doomed the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska soccer team, as the Huskers fell to IowaState, 2-0, Friday in front of 557 fans at the Nebraska Soccer Field. NU outshot ISU, 26-11, but two shots that bounced off the crossbar and two more tries that were cleared off the endline by Cyclone defenders were the highlights of a frustrating game for the Huskers.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

With the loss, NU (11-6-1 overall, 5-3-1 Big 12) lost control of the race for the Big 12 regular-season title. Instead of controlling their own destiny, the Huskers must hope for a Texas A&M loss tonight and defeat Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, on Sunday to claim a share of the title.

 

Iowa State improved to 11-5-3 overall and 6-3-1 in the league with its first win over NU in school history. The Cyclones scored a goal in each half to hand the Huskers only their second defeat by more than one goal in 2005.

 

Iowa State scored its first goal at 5:27 after the Cyclones drew a penalty kick. Renee de St. Aubin took the penalty kick, and NU freshman goalkeeper Jamie Klages made a spectacular diving save to her left, but the rebound went directly to Aubin who found the back of the net from five yards out.

 

The Huskers had several chances in the first half, but were unable to convert. At the 25-minute mark, freshman Aysha Jamani spun at the top of the box and earned enough space to get off a shot that sailed just inches over the crossbar. In the 31st minute, freshman Jessie Goodell sent a cross deep into the box that nearly found the back of the net. The ball was punched up in the air by ISU goalkeeper Joanna Haig and then punched clear of danger again by Haig.

 

NU’s best chance to score came during a flurry inside the Cyclone box in the 38th minute. Freshman Danielle Schoen had a shot from five yards out blocked by the ISU defense and the rebound was headed toward goal by senior Sasha Andrews. Andrews’ header had Haig beat, but hit the bottom of the crossbar before being cleared by the IowaState defense.

 

The Huskers earned a final chance with 31 seconds left in the half. With a loose ball deep in the box and Haig on the ground, Schoen slid and got her foot on the ball before Haig could control it, but Schoen’s shot rolled just wide.

 

In the second period, the Cyclones won a corner kick after a brilliant diving save by Klages. On the ensuing kick, Jess Villhauer’s ball found the head of Kristina Baumann for the final goal of the game. While ISU was able to convert its lone corner kick of the game, Nebraska came up empty on its 14 attempts. The 14 corner kicks were one shy of the Huskers’ season high.

 

Nebraska had several excellent scoring chances in the second period. In the 50th minute, senior Sasha Andrews sent a header into the box, where sophomore Jessie Bruch’s shot was blocked. Freshman Selenia Iacchelli then beat Haig with a shot, but the ball was cleared off the backline by an ISU defender.

 

The Huskers had a second ball cleared off the endline in the 77th minute, when junior Tanya Dennis ripped a shot from eight yards out that a Cyclone defender was able to deflect for a corner kick. At 88:09 Dennis had another excellent chance, but her shot hit the crossbar.

 

In addition to outshooting the Cyclones, 26-11, the Huskers placed eight shots on goal, not including the two shots that bounded off the crossbar. Nebraska's 14-1 advantage in corner kicks was the Huskers' largest margin of the season, while the 26 shots and 14 corner kicks were each one shy of a season high.

 

In net, Klages recorded three saves for NU, while Haig made six of ISU's eight saves.

 

The Huskers six-player senior class was honored following the game, as Friday's match was the final regular-season home game of the season for NU.

 

Nebraska returns to action on Sunday when it closes out the regular season at Noon against Texas Tech.