Huskers Fall in Longhorn Comeback

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? Despite playing with the lead for the first time in four games, the Husker soccer team dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to Texas on Sunday at the Nebraska Soccer Field.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The Huskers (8-5-3 overall; 3-4-1 Big 12) had trailed by a goal in each of their previous four games and had come back to win two of those matches. On Sunday, redshirt freshman Shannon Dickerson staked NU to a 1-0 lead when she scored in the 14th minute.

 

Dickerson’s goal would not hold up, however, as Texas found the equalizer in the 34th minute and the game-winner in the 57th minute to give the Longhorns (12-3-1 overall, 5-1-1 Big 12) their fourth consecutive win.

 

 

On Senior Day, Brittany Timko teamed up with Dickerson to put the Huskers on the board first at 13:27. Timko sent a free ball into the middle of the box, where Dickerson deflected it past UT goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger for the goal.

 

Dickerson’s goal was the first of her career and highlighted a dominating opening 20 minutes for the Huskers. Play evened out for the rest of the first period before Texas tied the game at 33:06.

 

On the far sideline, NU freshman defender Anna Caniglia tried to shield a Texas player in an attempt to win a throw-in. Texas was able to keep the ball in play, however, and Kelsey Carpenter sent a ball into the box that deflected into the goal for Caitlin Kennedy’s second goal of the season.

 

The second half provided fewer scoring opportunities for both teams, as Nebraska managed five shots and Texas just two. The Longhorns made one of their shots count, as Carpenter and Kennedy teamed up again for the game-winning goal.

 

Great passing kept the ball deep in Husker territory before Kennedy found Carpenter streaking through the box for the score.

 

The goal closed the door on Nebraska, despite a handful of missed scoring opportunities for the Huskers, including one with 20 minutes to play when sophomore Aysha Jamani crossed a ball toward the Longhorns’ far post to find Selenia Iacchelli for a diving header that slipped out of bounds.

 

After splitting the weekend between road and home matches, the Huskers face a full weekend on the road next week. NU takes on OklahomaState at 7 p.m. on Friday followed by a 1 p.m. start at Oklahoma on Sunday.