Huskers Rally Past Ramblers, 3-2

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? The Husker soccer team used a gutsy, come-from-behind effort to post a 3-2 victory over a tough Loyola-Chicago squad on a cold and drizzly Wednesday afternoon at the Nebraska Soccer Field.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The Huskers’ win in the last regular-season contest of the year improved their record to 10-6-3 on the season. With the victory, Nebraska has now won at least 10 games in each of the 13 years of the program. Loyola-Chicago fell to 11-6-3 with the loss.

 

After sophomore Jessie Goodell put Nebraska on the board less than two minutes into the game, the Ramblers stormed back with goals in the 17th and 28th minutes to take a 2-1 lead of their own.

 

Nebraska then took control of the game and found the equalizer late in the first period after a brilliant effort from sophomore Aysha Jamani. The Huskers controlled play for most of the second half and freshman Brittany Lanier scored the game-winner by firing a point-blank shot into the back of the net following a prolonged fight for possession in front of the Rambler goal.

 

Lanier’s second game-winning goal of her career capped a terrific team effort that saw Nebraska out-shoot Loyola, 26-8, and earn a 9-to-4 shots-on-goal advantage.

 

The Huskers’ underclassmen came up particularly big in the win, as NU’s three goals were scored by a pair of sophomores and a freshman and the lone assist of the night was awarded to freshman Carly Peetz, who played up front the entire afternoon.

 

Nebraska’s gritty effort to erase a 2-1 deficit didn’t appear necessary early as the Huskers attacked right from the opening kickoff and scored their quickest goal of the season.

 

Peetz found herself in space and crossed the ball from the left side of the field to find Goodell near the right corner.  Goodell controlled the ball and calmly fired a shot past LUC goalkeeper Emily Peick and into the far side of the net for her first goal of the season.

 

The Ramblers fought back against the slick surface 15 minutes later with a goal from junior Heather Lau.  Senior Katie Heidenreich’s initial effort was saved by sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Klages, but she was unable to hold on to the ball and it bounced back out to find Lau who fired it into the left corner, around a diving effort by Klages.

 

Despite a clear offensive advantage for the Huskers, Loyola-Chicago continued to be patient with the ball and saw it pay off with a go-ahead goal in the 27th minute.  The Ramblers sent a ball toward the goal past the NU defense where Klages came out in an attempt to clear it from danger. The ball took a tough hop on the slick surface, however, and Klages deflected it toward goal, where Sarah McPartlan was able to gather it and fire a shot into the back of the net.

 

Jamani’s goal tied the game at 34:48. After receiving the ball on the near side of the field, Jamani created her own space and beat several Rambler defenders and she moved across the field. Jamani kept possession until she reached the top of the box, where she fired a shot past Peick.

 

Nebraska continued to apply tremendous pressure in the second half, attempting 12 shots to Loyola’s three, while earning six corner kicks and limiting LUC to just one.

 

The pressure paid off at 79:50 when redshirt-freshman Shannon Dickerson engaged in a battle for the ball deep in the Ramblers’ box. After a tough battle, the ball emerged and Lanier was there to one-time into the back of the net and lift the Huskers to their second straight victory.

 

Although she allowed three goals, Peick was solid in net for Loyola, recording six saves in slick, frigid conditions. Klages had less pressure but stopped two Rambler shots while earning her 10th victory of the season.

 

After three games in five days, the Huskers finally get to rest up this weekend in preparation for the Big 12 Championship, which starts next Wednesday, Nov. 1 in San Antonio, Texas.