Bruch's Goals Pace Huskers in Loss

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>San Antonio, Texas ? Sophomore Jessie Bruch scored two goals, but Texas A&M tallied three second half goals to break a 1-1 halftime tie in a 4-2 victory over the Nebraska soccer team in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament Friday in front of 1,223 fans at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

The loss dropped Nebraska to 13-7-1 on the season and eliminated the Huskers from the tournament.

 

In the first half, A&M had a chance in the 23rd minute when NU freshman goalkeeper Jamie Klages collided with senior Nikki Baker on a cross in the middle of the box. With Klages down, A&M sent a header on goal that was cleared off the backline by Husker senior defender Katie Bunkers.

 

Nebraska had several good scoring chances of its own before the Aggies scored the game’s first goal off their first shot on goal at 27:09. Ashlee Pistorius and Laura Probst teamed up to find Kat Krambeer on a well-timed run in the box. Krambeer found herself one-on-one with Klages from 10 yards out and slipped a shot past her and into the back of the net for a 1-0 Texas A&M lead.

 

The Huskers nearly answered three minutes later when senior Vern Fitzgerald had a shot cleared off the backline by the defense off a corner kick and senior Sasha Andrews fired a rebound attempt wide.

 

A&M had another chance in the 32nd minute when two Aggies made a run in the center of the box, but neither was able to get off a shot before Carrie Berend fired wide.

 

Nebraska answered with just 2:02 remaining in the period when junior Brittany Timko took a free kick from 35 yards out that sophomore Jessie Bruch headed over A&M goalkeeper Kati Jo Spisak to tie the game at 1-1.

 

Timko’s assist was her 20th of the season, making her the first player in school history to reach the 20-assist mark in a single season. It also marked her 40th point of the season, her second consecutive 40-point season.

 

In a competitive first half, NU outshot A&M 11-8, but the Aggies placed five shots on goal to the Huskers’ three. Nebraska also won the corner kick battle, winning five to Texas A&M’s three.

 

Texas A&M got the first goal of the second half at 59:47 when Ashlee Pistorius found a loose ball in the box. After Madison Klovstad’s shot hit the post, the ball was stuck between a Husker and Krambeer, but Krambeer kicked the ball toward net, where Pistorius booted it into an empty net from point-blank range.

 

The Aggies had several more chances before Melissa Garey scored A&M’s third goal with 8:54 remaining in the game. Garey put a perfectly-placed shot just inside the far post to beat a diving Klages.

 

Bruch pulled the Huskers to within 3-2 when she controlled the ball deep in the box and spun away from a defender and beat Spisak from five yards out for her second goal of the game. It was Bruch’s second multi-goal game of the season.

 

With Nebraska pushing forward in an attempt to get the equalizer, Pistorius lofted a deep shot from 30 yards out that found the back of the net before Klages could retreat in time to make the save.

 

For the game, Texas A&M outshot NU 19-16, including a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal. Klages made five saves for NU, while Spisak made two for the Aggies.

 

Nebraska now awaits word on the NCAA Tournament. The field of 64 will be announced live on ESPNews between 4 and 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The Huskers have advanced to the Sweet 16 in eight of the past nine seasons.