Huskers Fall to ISU in OT

Ames, Iowa ? The Nebraska soccer team suffered its first overtime loss of the year with a 3-2 setback in double overtime at Iowa State in Ames on Sunday.

 

Nebraska slipped to 6-2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12, while the Cyclones improved to 5-6 overall and 1-1 in the league.

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The Huskers enjoyed a 2-1 lead in the final minute of regulation before a Cyclone penalty kick forced NU's fourth overtime game of the season, tying the 2003 squad for the most overtime games in a season. The loss marked the first loss by the Huskers in overtime since losing to <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Texas, 1-0, last season. Nebraska is 1-1-2 in extra minutes this season and 12-6-11 all-time.

 

The overtime loss spoiled another outstanding performance from senior Brittany Timko, who assisted on the Huskers' second goal to set a school record by scoring at least one point in her 13th straight game.

 

Iowa State challenged Nebraska early with a cross from the left side that slipped behind sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Klages.  Cyclone midfielder Elise Reid had a chance to finish the shot, but was stopped by the Nebraska defense as redshirt-freshman midfielder Shannon Dickerson fell in to clear the play for a team save.

 

However, Iowa State was not put off for long. The Cyclones capitalized on a foul just outside the 18-yard box, when ISU freshman Casey Bothwell threaded a shot past Klages for the first goal of her career at 10:43.  It was the first time since the season opener against Wright State that the Huskers surrendered the game's opening goal.

 

Nebraska saw a similar opportunity in the 20th minute as sophomore McKensie Kirchner drew a foul outside the 18.  Timko placed the direct kick on goal, but it was tipped out of bounds by ISU goalkeeper Ann Gleason.

 

Nebraska earned two of its four first-half corner kicks with 10 minutes remaining in the half, with the first corner being pushed out of bounds by ISU.  The second tied the score. 

 

After being rejected by a staunch Cyclone defense on the initial attempt, senior defender Tanya Dennis was waiting at the top of the 18 to chip the ball back in play where freshman Shay Powell connected for her second career goal at 37:37.  Dennis was credited with her second assist of the season.

 

The Huskers went to work early in the second half, earning two corner kicks in the first four minutes. NU's second of the seconde stanza nearly resulted in a goal for Powell, who fired a shot that sailed just high of the crossbar.

 

Turning to a different kind of set play, Nebraska found success on a direct kick in the 66th minute, as Timko fed the ball in from 25 yards out to find freshman Carly Peetz, who connected on a sliding kick to put the ball in the back of the net.  The goal was the first of Peetz's career, while Timko's assist extended her scoring streak to a school-record 13 straight games.

 

Trailing 2-1 with less than 25 minutes to play, Iowa State continued to battle, and the Cyclones were rewarded with just 49 seconds left in the game. ISU midfielder Stephanie Kaphingst beat the NU defense for a one-on-one with Klages, who stopped the initial shot, but could not maintain control of the ball.  A persistent Kaphingst followed the bobbled shot toward the net, but was fouled by Klages before she could fire the shot, resulting in a penalty kick for Iowa State.

 

Kaphingst connected on the game-tying goal off the penalty kick to send the game to overtime.

 

Iowa State continued to put pressure on the Huskers through the first overtime, placing three shots on goal in the 10-minute period. However, Klages and the NU defense were able to keep the Cyclones at bay, forcing the second overtime.

 

But the shots continued to rain down on the Huskers in the last 10 minutes, with several solid scoring attempts made by ISU.  With five minutes left to play, the Cyclones again got Klages on the ground with the ball behind her and a clear shot at the net, but sophomore Lindsay Poehling made a heads-up play to block the shot.

 

Unfortunately, Nebraska couldn’t hold on, and eventually Iowa State’s persistence won out.  The Cyclones won their fourth corner kick of the game with just 22 second remaining in double overtime, finding freshman defender Lauren Fader for the goal to lift ISU to its fifth win of the season.

Because the contest went into two overtimes, it also sets a new

Nebraska soccer record for most double overtime matches in a season.

 

Overall, Nebraska was outshot 24-14 by the Cyclones, despite recording 11 corner kicks to just four from ISU.

 

Klages recorded a season-high nine saves in the loss, while Gleason had six stops for Iowa State.

 

Nebraska is back in Lincoln next weekend for a pair of games against Colorado and Kansas.  Nebraska kicks off against the Buffs at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Nebraska Soccer Field followed by a 1 p.m. start against KU on Sunday.