Huskers Blank Bears, 1-0

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Waco, Texas ? Freshman goalkeeper Jamie Klages recorded her third consecutive shutout and sophomore Jessie Bruch provided the game-winning goal in the 68th minute to lift the Nebraska soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Baylor Friday night.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

With the win Nebraska (8-3-1 overall, 3-0-1 Big 12) extended its unbeaten streak to a season-high five games. Klages recorded four saves and increased her consecutive scoreless minutes streak to 3:53:56 and has allowed only one goal in four career Big 12 games.

 

Baylor fell to 2-9-1 overall and 0-4-0 in the league with the loss.

 

The Huskers' lone goal came off a long set play. Klages took a free kick three yards behind the midfield stripe and senior Sasha Andrews played the ball to Bruch, who found the back of the net at 67:54. The goal was Bruch's second game winner of the season, while the assist was the first of Klages' career.

 

In the first half, Nebraska controlled most of the action, but the Bears made the most of their possessions. Baylor won a dangerous free kick in the 18th minute, and from 25 yards out, Tiffany Boshers sent a shot that was headed out of danger by the Nebraska defense.

 

In the 30th minute, NU had a good chance when senior Nikki Baker sent a cross into the middle of the box, where junior Brittany Timko headed it away from Baylor goalkeeper Ashley Holder. Timko tracked down the loose ball and sent a ball toward net that was cleared by the Bears’ defense.

 

Baylor earned another dangerous free kick from 30 yards out in the 31st minute. BU played a short ball to Boshers, whose shot sailed just high. Boshers had another chance with 5:52 remaining in the first period when her shot went just wide from 30 yards out.

 

In the period, each team recorded seven shots, with five of the Huskers’ shots being placed on goal to only two from Baylor. NU also won three corner kicks to BU’s one.

 

Baylor opened the second half by winning a corner kick in the 49th minute. Jennifer Martin’s kick found Margaret Kaderli, whose header from 10 yards out was saved by Klages. The Bears earned another corner kick two minutes later but were unable to get off a shot.

 

The Huskers nearly cracked the scoreboard in the 56th minute when freshman Aysha Jamani nearly beat Holder to the ball a yard in front of the goal, but Holder was able to dive and cover the ball before Jamani could get to it.

 

Timko nearly scored the Huskers' second goal when she found herself open on the far side of the box after a pass from freshman Jessie Goodell. Timko lofted a ball targeted for the far post, but Holder made an outstanding diving effort to punch the ball away.

 

Baylor had another quality scoring chance with 12 minutes left in the game. Klages was beaten to the ball at the edge of the box, but the Husker defense regrouped quickly and Andrews cleared a cross by winning a tough header to preserve the shutout.

 

For the game, the Huskers outshot the Bears, 15-14, including a 10-4 shots-on-goal advantage. NU also won eight corner kick to Baylor's three.

 

Nebraska travels to College Station, Texas, on Sunday for a 1:30 p.m. match with the Texas A&M Aggies at the Aggie Soccer Complex.