Huskers Claw Past Bears, 2-1 in Overtime

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? After numerous chances failed to find the back of the net, a goal in the 81st minute of regulation and a game-winning goal from sophomore Aysha Jamani just 51 seconds into the first overtime period lifted the Nebraska soccer team to a 2-1 win over Baylor on Friday afternoon.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Despite controlling the ball for most of the game and enjoying a large advantage in shots and shots on goal, the Huskers found themselves trailing 1-0 late in the game. Senior Brittany Timko finally got Nebraska on the board when her free kick found the back of the net at 80:13 to force overtime.

 

The momentum from Timko’s ninth goal of the season carried over into extra time, as Nebraska immediately earned its 12th corner kick of the game. Timko’s kick found freshman Carly Peetz, who headed the ball to the front of the goal where Jamani knocked it past a flurry of Baylor defenders.

 

Nebraska dominated the game, taking a season-high 28 shots while holding Baylor to six, tying the season low for shots allowed by NU.  The Huskers put 10 shots on goal to just two from BU and enjoyed a 12-1 margin in corners.

 

With the win, Nebraska improves to 7-3-3 on the season and 2-2-1 in the Big 12, while the Bears fall to 5-7-1, 2-3-0 in the Big 12.

 

Baylor earned just one shot in the entire first half, but one was all it took as senior Missy McConnell one-timed a pass from senior Anna Schuch into the top right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead at 32:53. 

 

Baylor’s only other scoring opportunity of the half again showcased Schuch, who beat the NU defense down the left side for a one-on-one chance at NU sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Klages, but Schuch caught from behind by sophomore defender Lindsay Poehling who knocked the ball out of play.

 

With a 14-1 shot margin, Nebraska was not without opportunities of its own during the first half.  One of the first chances came when Timko put a ball in on a corner kick that was deflected by Jamani off the far post and into Holder’s control.

 

NU took seven corner kicks in the first half alone, resulting in a number of great scoring opportunities including a pair late in the first period.  Timko found the head of freshman Shannon Dickerson on the initial attempt, which was blocked by Holder.  Sophomore Jessie Goodell gathered up the loose ball and put a shot toward the net that was saved on a team effort by the Lady Bears.

 

Down 1-0 in the second half, the Husker continued to dominate, earning 13 shots, five of which were on goal.  Jamani created many of Nebraska’s scoring attempts including one in the 55th minute where she picked her way through the BU defense and put a shot on goal that Holder was able to get a glove on to deflect out of bounds.

 

In the 62nd minute, Nebraska defender Tanya Dennis got in on the action as she gathered a loose ball from a broken corner kick and sent a shot that was denied by a leaping save from Holder.

 

Holder, the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, made seven saves on the game, while Klages turned away just one shot for the Huskers.

 

The Huskers return to the Nebraska Soccer Field this Sunday, Oct. 8, to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Noon, before heading on the road next Friday, Oct. 13 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Texas A&M.