Huskers Slip to Chippewas

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Lincoln ? The wind was gusting across the Nebraska Soccer Field on Friday night, but for the Huskers, it never seemed to blow the right way as Nebraska had its six-game unbeaten streak snapped by Central Michigan, 2-1. 

Nebraska slipped to 4-1-2 on the season despite a 25-6 shot advantage, including a 7-2 shot on goal margin and 16-2 corner kick differential.  The Chippewas improved to 7-0-0 despite attempted to just two shots on goal against the Huskers.

Nebraska posted several single-game season bests including its 25 shots and 16 corner kicks.  The Huskers earned 10 corner kicks in the second half alone, more than the total number of corners Nebraska enjoyed in a single game so far this season.

 

Junior Jessie Bruch led NU’s scoring effort with a team-best seven shots, including two on goal, one of which found its way into the back of the net for Nebraska’s lone score of the evening.  Senior Brittany Timko picked up her fourth assist on the play, while sophomore Ali Lokanc notched the first assist of her career.

 

Nebraska dominated the flow of play, maintaining possession of the ball on Central Michigan’s half of the field for the majority of the contest.  But an outstanding game by both the Chippewa defense, as well as goalkeeper Anne Decker, who earned six saves, kept Nebraska’s scoring attempts at bay.

 

The Huskers dominated the first half, outshooting Central Michigan 13-2.  However, NU was only able to place one shot on goal.

 

NU’s first scoring opportunity came in the 19th minute when Timko beat a CMU defender to come face to face with Decker.  Timko fired a shot from eight yards out, but a diving save by Decker deflected the ball out of bounds.

 

The Huskers earned one of six corner kicks in the first half, compared to just two from Central Michigan.

 

Nebraska continued to control possession for the remainder of the first period, with the majority of play taking place on the Chippewa end of the pitch.  The Huskers used the extra touches to their advantage, building several scoring opportunities including a shot from Bruch with 10 minutes remaining in the period that sailed just high of the cross bar.

 

Three minutes later Nebraska managed to sweep the ball into the back of the net on a pass from Timko that deflected off of sophomore Selenia Iacchelli before being buried by sophomore Jessie Goodell.  Unfortunately the goal was called back on an offsides penalty by the Huskers.

 

Nebraska came out of the locker room after half time with a clear mission and followed through quickly, putting a ball into the goal at just 46:07.  Lokanc took a throw in on the north sideline that found Timko near the middle of the field, who then forwarded a perfect pass on to Bruch for the goal and a 1-0 lead.

 

Despite the early second half score, Central Michigan wasn’t phased and quickly returned with a goal of its own at 49:33.  Freshman Stephanie Martin netted her second goal of the season as she battled a flock of Husker defenders down the middle of the box and got a shot off that slid just past the outstretched hands of Klages.

 

With the contest tied, Nebraska’s scoring chances began to come at more of a premium as the CMU forwards put more pressure on the NU defenders.  With just over 30 minutes left to play, that pressure became too much as Martin again broke through for the game-winning goal on a pass from senior Jacquie Lacek.

 

Nebraska finishes its eight-game home stand this Sunday with a 1 p.m kick off against TCU, before heading on the road to begin Big 12 play against undefeated Missouri on Friday, Sept. 22.