Husker Comeback Falls Short

The <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska soccer team fell short of a comeback win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday afternoon, dropping a 3-2 decision to No. 1 seed Portland at Nebraska Soccer Field.

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The Huskers, who finish their season with a 14-8-1 record, used a second-half goal from sophomore Jessie Bruch off a deflected free kick by junior Brittany Timko to cut the Pilots’ 3-1 lead in half at the 67:24 mark. The goal marked the first time this season that Portland had allowed more than one goal in a game as the Pilots had outscored their opponents 65-6 on the season heading into the match.

 

NU was unable to mount a final push in the closing minutes, as the stiff Portland defense limited NU to only five shots on goal for the game.

 

The Pilots took a 3-1 lead at the half after a pair of misplays from the NU defense, with two scores coming from the foot of star forward Christine Sinclair, the all-time leading goal scorer in NCAA Tournament history. Just 3:50 into the game, Sinclair scored an unassisted goal to put Portland on top 1-0. Husker freshman goalkeeper Jamie Klages mishit a goal kick and the ball found the foot of Sinclair who found herself one-on-one with Klages on a breakaway.

 

Nebraska found the equalizer in the 20th minute. A loose ball in the box found freshman Aysha Jamani, who flicked the ball to the far post, where she connected with fellow freshman Jessie Goodell, who one-timed a shot into the back of the net for her first career goal.

 

The Huskers rode that momentum to control the tempo for the next several minutes before Sinclair scored her second goal of the game. The ball was played back to Klages, who waited just a moment too long to clear the ball. Her clearance was blocked by Sinclair and deflected toward goal, where she raced it down and kicked it into an empty net.

 

Klages, however, kept the Huskers in the match by recording a career-high 10 saves, including several brilliant stops to keep NU within a goal of Portland. The Pilots mounted several scoring chances and finished the match with a 33-12 edge in total shots.

 

Sinclair’s speed proved to be a factor on the Pilots’ third goal, which came just six seconds before the half. A through-ball found a sprinting Sinclair, who beat Klages on the endline and sent a pass to the middle of the box where Natalie Budge scored on an empty net.

 

In the first period, Portland doubled Nebraska’s shots, 16-8 and placed six shots on goal to NU’s three. Pilot goalkeeper Cori Alexander was rarely challenge, finishing the match with three saves.

 

Portland advances to the Sweet 16 where it will host Arizona next weekend.