Huskers Post 2-2 Draw with Badgers

Lincoln - For the second consecutive week, the Nebraska soccer team played to a double overtime tie in a 2-2 draw with Wisconsin at the Nebraska Soccer Field on Friday.  This is the first time in the history of the program that the Huskers have tied a pair of opponents in back-to-back action and only the third time in 13 seasons that Nebraska has notched more than one tie in a season.

Despite the return of the offensive firepower of senior Brittany Timko and sophomore Aysha Jamani, the Badgers outshot the Huskers 16-9, with a 7-4 shots on goal ratio.  Nebraska was also unable to enjoy its usual number of set plays, earning just six corner kicks to Wisconsin's seven.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Klages earned a season-high five saves, while Wisconsin's Stefani Szczechowski marked two saves.

Overall, Nebraska welcomed five new faces to the pitch for the contest, including Timko, Jamani, junior Sari Raber, sophomore Selenia Iacchelli and redshirt freshman Shannon Dickerson.  Timko, Jamani, Raber and Iacchelli recently returned to Lincoln after competing on the Canadian National circuit, while Dickerson made her debut with the Huskers after transferring from USC this year.

Nebraska got on the board first in the match with a goal from Jamani, who recently returned to the Husker lineup after playing with the Canadian Under-20 National Team.  Jamani dribbled through several Badger defenders before sending a solid shot into the left corner of the net past Wisconsin goalkeeper Stefani Szcechowski with 15:57 remaining in the first half.

The Badgers answered not long after when sophomore Taylor Walsh sent a 10 yard header past Nebraska goalkeeper Jamie Klages off of a free kick from Wisconsin junior Ann Eshun at 18:12.  The goal was Walsh's second of the season.

The score remained 1-1 for the rest of the half, despite several notable efforts from the Huskers.  Junior Jessie Bruch connected on a nice header off a corner kick from Timko that spun just left of the Wisconsin goal.  Timko had a scoring opportunity herself not long after as she put the ball into the net, but had the goal recalled because of a foul before the shot.

The Badgers continued their aggressive play in the second half, which resulted in their second goal.  Freshman Krista Lyskevych found a hole in the Nebraska defense at 62:51, sneaking a shot past Klages from less than 10 yards out for her second goal of the year.  Senior Kara Kabellis was credited with the assist on the play.

Down 2-1 with less than 30 minutes remaining, the Husker kept up their attack, putting several shots on goal and earning a corner kick that would tie the game.  Timko found one of her favorite targets in Bruch, who landed a perfect header past Wisconsin's Szczechowski at 78:35.  It was Bruch's first goal and Timko's first assist on the season.

At the end of regulation, the 2-2 tie stood, forcing the game into extra minutes for the second consecutive week at the Nebraska Soccer Field.  Despite another 20 minutes of play, neither team could budge the score and the Huskers earned their second tie of the season.

Nebraska, now 0-0-2, returns to the pitch this Sunday, Sept. 3 as they take on Iowa at the Nebraska Soccer Field for a 1 p.m. kickoff.