Nebraska Enjoys Full Roster for Weekend Series

After opening its regular season down four players, the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska soccer team will enjoy a full roster as it continues its eight-game home stand this weekend with a 5 p.m. kickoff on Friday against Wisconsin, followed by a 1 p.m. contest against Iowa on Sunday.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Senior Brittany Timko and sophomores Aysha Jamani, Selenia Iacchelli and Sari Raber join the Huskers this weekend after playing for Canadian National teams the past several weeks.  The group's return marks a significant boost to Nebraska's offensive firepower as Timko, Jamani and Iacchelli were responsible for 51 percent of NU's points in 2005.  Raber did not compete last season due to injury, but after starting 19 games as a defender in 2004, she is expected to make a major contribution in 2006.  With the recent injuries of junior Meghan Hungerford and senior Abby Penas, the Husker defense will benefit from Raber's experience at the position.

 

The Huskers take the field this weekend for two games after opening the regular season last Friday.  Nebraska played WrightState to a 1-1 tie in double overtime with NU's lone goal coming from freshman Savannah Allen.  After WrightState took the lead in the 14th minute, Allen answered with just under 10 minutes left in the half when she netted a rebound off of a shot taken by sophomore Jessie Goodell, who was credited with the assist.

 

Despite battling through another 75 minutes, neither team was able to take the lead, despite the Huskers outshooting WrightState 15-8.  NU also took nine cornerkicks to the Raiders' two.  The tie was the 10th in program history and the second in a season-opener.

 

Both Wisconsin and Iowa split games in their opening weekends.  Wisconsin opened its season with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Creighton, before falling to No. 10 California 1-0.  Iowa earned its record in reverse order, falling to Missouri 2-0 before rallying on Sunday for a 1-0 shutout of South Carolina.  Wisconsin and Iowa are the only two Big Ten teams the Huskers will face during the regular season.  Nebraska is 13-4-1 all-time against the Big Ten.

 

Fans attending either match this weekend are encouraged to park in the Stadium Drive Parking Garage, located across the street from the West side of Memorial Stadium.  The fee for using the garage is $1 per hour and fans are advised that UNL Parking Services will ticket vehicles parked in university lots without a permit.

 

Also, a reminder that fans can enter the Nebraska Soccer Field from the original entrance on the south side by the pillars, or take advantage of an additional gate on the west side of the field beneath the skybridge connecting the Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex and the Hawks Championship Center.

  

 

Scouting Wisconsin

The Wisconsin soccer program celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2006 and its 13th season under head coach Dean Duerst (145-97-28).  The Badgers return seven starters and 14 letterwinners from last year's club, including two-time All-Big Ten selection Kara Kabellis, who finished the 2005 season with 20 points.

 

Despite its returning experience, Wisconsin relied heavily on its underclass contingent in its season-opening weekend.  The Badgers recorded a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Creighton last Friday, with three unanswered goals in the second half.   Sophomore Taylor Walsh was the first to strike, followed by additional goals from junior Marissa Sarkesian and freshman Krista Lyskevych.  Walsh also recorded a pair of assists in the contest.

 

Interestingly, Wisconsin recorded a shot differential of 15-8 over Creighton and led the Bluejays 9-1 on cornerkicks.  Likewise, Nebraska owned an identical 15-8 shot spread and similar 9-2 cornerkick advantage over WrightState in its season-opener.

 

The Badgers went on to post a 1-0 loss to No. 10 California on Sunday, but they still posted a 5-0 cornerkick advantage.  Although Wisconsin was outshot 12-10 by the Golden Bears, it still produced a second straight game with double-digits shots, a strong indication of the Badgers' aggressive offensive attack.

 

With both Wisconsin and Nebraska relying on set plays and heavy offensive production, Friday's contest could be determined by the defense and goalkeeping of either team.

 

Series History:  Nebraska vs. Wisconsin

The Huskers have met the Badgers twice over the last 12 years.  Nebraska owns a 2-0-0 record against Wisconsin, with their last meeting taking place in 2003 in Madison, Wis.  The contest finished in a 2-1 NU victory.

 

Nebraska and Wisconsin's first meeting took place at the Abbott Sports Complex in 2002, with the Huskers posting a 1-0 shutout win.

 

 

Scouting Iowa

Iowa begins a new era in Hawkeye soccer this season under first-year head coach Ron Rainey.  An assistant coach at Iowa before leaving for a seven-year stint as the head coach at Ball State where he earned a record of 70-52-17, Rainey brought with him the only senior on the 2006 Hawkeye roster.  Goalkeeper Ali Becker transferred from BallState to Iowa for her final year, which proved to be useful for the Hawkeyes during the opening weekend.  Becker recorded six saves in Iowa's season-opening 2-0 loss to Missouri last Friday, and added six more saves in a 1-0 Hawkeye win over South Carolina on Sunday.

 

Overall, the Hawkeyes return 18 letterwinners on a young, but talented roster comprised of mostly freshmen and sophomores.  Iowa is deepest in the midfield where it returns six letterwinners.  However, some of the Hawkeyes' most impressive talent is at forward, where sophomore Stephanie Hyink returns after landing 15 points in her freshman campaign.  Hyink recorded five of Iowa's 11 shots in its loss to Missouri last Friday.

 

Series History: Nebraska vs. Iowa

This weekend's contest marks just the second meeting between Iowa and Nebraska.  The first time they met was on Aug. 31, 2003, when the Huskers notched a 3-0 shutout at the Abbott Sports Complex in Lincoln.

 

Nebraska is 13-4-1 all-time against Big Ten teams and will look to continue that winning record this weekend as it faces a pair of Big Ten foes.

 

 

Four Canadians Could Make Major Impact

If past performance is anything from which to gage expectation, the four Canadians who return to the Husker lineup this weekend should make an immediate and noticeable impact.  Senior Brittany Timko, junior Sari Raber and sophomore Selenia Iacchelli all return to Lincoln for Friday's 5 p.m. kickoff against Wisconsin after missing the opener because of Canadian National Team commitments.  In addition to bringing experience and depth back to the 27-player Nebraska roster, the return of these four athletes could also make a major statistical impact. 

 

A standout at Nebraska for the past three seasons, Timko is the returning statistical leader in every offensive category.  Additionally, Timko and Jamani combined to finish one and two in all statistical categories except assists last season.  The pair, along with Iacchelli, ranked in the top five overall in all categories.

 

Raber, who did not play in 2005 because of injury, is excluded from this statistical analysis, but still brings experience to a Husker defense that recently sustained injuries of junior Meghan Hungerford and senior Abby Penas.

  

Statistical Impact

Category                           Overall % Returning (Leader)  % from Timko, Jamani, Iacchelli  

Points                                80% (Timko, 43)                                                                           51%

Goals                                 80% (Timko, 11)                                                                           49%

Game-Winning Goals    71% (Timko, Andrews, 4)                                                           43%  

Assists                              82% (Timko, 21)                                                                           57%

Game-Winning Assists 87% (Timko, 8)                                                                             67%

Shots                                 82% (Timko, 93)                                                                           49%

Shots on Goal                  80% (Timko, 47)                                                                           53%

 

 

Freshman Force

With the absence of three of Nebraska's 2005 starters in senior Brittany Timko and sophomores Aysha Jamani and Selenia Iacchelli, several Husker freshmen have had the opportunity to see field time already this season.  Of the seven true freshmen who played in NU's season-opener against WrightState last Friday, four earned starts, including Jacy Wicker, Carly Peetz, Brittney Lanier and Anna Caniglia.  The quartet combined for a total of 379 minutes against the Raiders with both Peetz and Caniglia playing all 110 minutes in the double-overtime contest.

 

Although she did not start, freshman Savannah Allen came into the game early and in 74 minutes made a substantial contribution with the Huskers' lone goal.  After Nebraska went down 1-0 on a 14th minute goal from WrightState, Allen's heads-up play put her in front of the goal to collect a rebound off of a shot from sophomore Jessie Goodell.  As the Huskers battled for the win, their next best opportunity for a goal again came from Allen, as she fired a shot off the near post in the first overtime. 

 

 

Aggressive Play Nears Field Record

In its first game at the Nebraska Soccer Field this season, the Huskers came close to breaking a facility record.  In 110 minutes, Nebraska posted 17 fouls, just one shy of the field record of 18 set last season against OklahomaState.  However, against the Cowgirls the Huskers played only the regulation 90 minutes and were nearly matched as OklahomaState notched 17 fouls of its own.

 

 

Injury Update           

Just one game into the regular season, Nebraska finds itself without four players, one from each class. 

 

Sophomore Lauren Isenhower was listed as a redshirt before the Huskers even reached training camp due to a knee injury she suffered while competing with Nebraska in Europe this past summer.  Junior Meghan Hungerford also suffered a season-ending injury before the season began as she fractured her ankle during summer camps.

 

Then came the loss of senior defender Abby Penas, who was expected to be a major contributor for the NU defense in her final season at Nebraska.  However, Penas suffered a knee injury in the Huskers' exhibition match with Louisville on Aug. 19, and is out for the rest of the season.

 

Freshman Jackie Walsh will likely apply for a medical hardship after undergoing foot surgery.

 

 

Corner Kickin'

Nebraska, which has historically enjoyed a tremendous advantage in corner kicks taken, is again out-cornering teams by a large margin.  In fact, the Huskers earned more single-game cornerkicks than any other team in the Big 12 this past weekend.

 

NU enjoyed a 9-2 cornerkick margin in its season-opener against WrightState, due in large part to the aggressive, smart play of its forwards in forcing opposing defenders to clear the ball through the endline.  Another reason for Nebraska earning so many cornerkicks is a direct result of the number of shots the Huskers take, as opposing goalkeepers often end up forcing the ball out of bounds in an attempt to save a potential goal.

 

Senior defender Tanya Dennis took all nine of Nebraska's corner kicks against WrightState as NU's regular kicker, Brittany Timko, did not play.   

           

 

Timko Placed on Hermann Award Watch List

Nebraska senior Brittany Timko earned her second nomination to the Hermann Watch List this season as announced by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.  Timko is one of 25 nominees compiled by a panel of coaches from the NSCAA.

 

The Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy honors the top male and female Division I college soccer players in the United States. The award represents the highest level of individual achievement in the sport. Over the years, the award has honored some of the biggest names in U.S. soccer. Kristine Lilly, Mia Hamm, Shannon MacMillan, Claudio Reyna, Alexi Lalas and Tony Meola are just a few of the players who won the award prior to achieving success on the international stage.

 

An NSCAA All-American, Timko earned her first nomination as a junior in 2005 and went on to finish among 15 semifinalists for the award.  A list of this year’s 15 Hermann Award semifinalists will be released in early November, with three finalists chosen later that month.  The finalists will be invited to St. Louis, Mo., on Dec. 2 for the announcement of the winner, as selected through voting by the members of the NSCAA, at the NCAA Men’s College Cup.  The winner will receive the prestigious crystal soccer ball trophy later that evening.

 

 

Big Time in the Big 12

Since joining the conference in 1996, the Nebraska soccer program has always been considered one of the teams to beat in the Big 12.  Over the last 12 seasons, the Huskers have laid claim to eight Big 12 titles and five Big 12 Tournament championships.  Only Texas A&M, which matched the Huskers with its eighth Big 12 title in 2005, has earned comparable level of success in the league.

 

Apart from its postseason success, Nebraska also owns a number of Big 12 team season records including most shots (656 in 2000), points (316 in 1999), goals (108 in 1999), goals per game (4.32 in 1999), assists (108 in 2000) and shutouts (16 in 2000).

 

Individually, Nebraska also reigns supreme, capturing a league-best 39 first-team All-Big 12 picks to Texas A&M's 28.  Recently, NU senior Brittany Timko also joined the Big 12 record books as she notched a conference-record 21 assists in 2005 to topple the previous record of 17, which was set in 2003 by OklahomaState's Nikki Wojtowicz.

 

 

NCAA Tournament Titans

For the Nebraska soccer program, the NCAA tournament isn't a goal, it's a tradition.  The Huskers have been a staple in collegiate women's soccer's biggest competition for the past 10 consecutive seasons, including eight runs into the Sweet 16 and two into the Elite Eight.

 

NU's success, coupled with the enthusiasm and support of the Lincoln community and Husker soccer fans, have made Nebraska one of the NCAA's favorite postseason tournament sites.  Lincoln has been host to opening-round action on seven occasions from 1996 to 2005.  Even when the Huskers made the move to the Nebraska Soccer Field in 2005, the trend continued as the venue was once again chosen to host the opening round between Nebraska, Creighton, Iowa State and eventual national champion Portland.