Husker Barrage Shuts Down TCU

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? The Nebraska soccer team out-shot TCU 23-8, including a 9-3 shots-on-goal edge on its way to a 4-0 shutout win over the Horned Frogs at the Nebraska Soccer Field on Sunday.

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With the victory, the Huskers improved to 5-1-2 on the season, while TCU slipped to 4-4.

 

The win follows NU’s first loss of the season to Central Michigan on Friday.  However, in both games the Huskers dominated the pitch, outshooting their opponents by a combined margin of 48-14 and allowing just three corner kicks to Nebraska’s 25.

 

“I thought we played well in both games this weekend,” Head Coach John Walker said.  “We’re competing at a higher level each time we play.  If you look at the number of shots and corners we took over the last two games, those are the numbers you want to see.  Sometimes you play well and it just doesn't go your way, but that's how the game goes.  The important thing is that we're getting better every game.”

 

NU’s 16 corner kicks against Central Michigan set a new Nebraska Soccer Field record, while the Huskers’ aggressive play against TCU also set a new facility record for fouls with 21. 

 

The Huskers were led in the win over TCU by senior Brittany Timko, who scored her fifth and sixth goals of the season.  With six goals, Timko has netted more than half her goal total from the 2005 season (11), just eight games into a 19-game regular season.

 

Junior Jessie Bruch isn’t far behind, as she notched her fourth goal of the year, while sophomore Sari Raber got in on the action with her first goal of the season and just the second of her career.

 

Defensively, Nebraska utilized a number of talented players including senior Tanya Dennis, sophomores Lindsay Poehling and Kellie Jensen and freshmen Anna Caniglia and Carly Peetz.  Together, this corps of defenders earned their third shutout of the year while allowing the Horned Frogs to launch just three shots on goal, only one of which was in the second half.

 

“We are deeper than we’ve ever been across the board,” Walker said.  “Our defense has played really well all year and now we’re able to put quite a few different players in there.  Kellie (Jensen) is obviously an outstanding defender and the only reason she didn’t start today is because we have so many great options at that position.”

 

Nebraska utilized the wind in the first half by taking a number of shots from the 18-yard box and beyond, several of which resulted in goals for the Huskers.  Bruch was the first to take a chance on the long ball as she took a pass from sophomore Jessie Goodell at the top of the 18 and fired it into the top right corner of the TCU net at 17:21.  The goal was the third consecutive for Bruch, who also notched NU’s lone goals against Western Carolina and Central Michigan earlier this week.

 

Taking a cue from her teammate, Timko launched a shot well beyond the 18 just 10 minutes later that was bobbled by TCU goalkeeper Katy Buchanon before landing in the goal.  With the score, the Coquitlam, British Columbia, native has now scored at least one point in 11 consecutive matches, just one short of the NU record of 12 set by Kim Engesser (1997).

 

After finding success in the long ball throughout the game, the Huskers also tried their luck with some short range action as Buchanon batted away a shot from Bruch that was gathered up by Raber for a goal at 35:16.

 

Although NU’s shooting barrage lessened in the second half, the Huskers still managed to dominate possession while injecting a variety of players into the lineup.  In all, 21 different Huskers earned time on the pitch including seven newcomers and redshirt freshman goalkeeper Brittany Pfeil, who replaced Klages in the net for the remaining eight minutes of the contest.

 

With the score 3-0 at the start of the second period, NU continued to work toward the net by adding another exciting goal at 56:59 as Timko once again took control for her second score of the game.  After Bruch advanced the ball up the field, Timko not only took on the TCU defense, but also backup goalkeeper Kelsey Vross.  Timko’s aggressive play pulled Vross out of the net, which allowed the 5-7 forward to showcase her ball control skills and sail a shot into the net before Vross could regain her position.  

 

The remaining 30 minutes of play failed to feature another score from either team as the Huskers earned their third shutout of the season to close an eight game non-conference homestand with a 5-1-2 record.

 

The Huskers hit the road next weekend for the start of Big 12 play as they take on undefeated Missouri on Friday at 7 p.m. in Columbia before traveling to Ames, Iowa, on Sunday for a 1 p.m. kick off against IowaState.