Huskers Go Undefeated in Spring Opener

Lincoln ? The Nebraska soccer team went undefeated in its 2007 spring opener, posting a 2-2 tie with Minnesota and a 2-0 win over South DakotaState on Sunday, March 25 at the Nebraska Soccer Field. NU’s games were two of three hosted by the Huskers for the day, including a contest between Creighton and South Dakota State that also ended in a 2-2 draw.

 

Nebraska’s match up with the Gophers was the first of the three games for the afternoon. In the tie, the Huskers held a slight 14-13 advantage in shots, while earning just four corner kicks to seven from the Gophers.

 

Sophomore Lindsay Poehling put away the first goal of her career to get NU on the board midway through the first half. Poehling received the ball on a cornerkick from senior Tanya Dennis, took a quick dribble to the right and ripped a shot that landed in the upper left corner of the net.

 

The Gophers answered with just over a minute left in the first period, as UM’s Lindsay Schwartz put a shot past NU goalkeeper Brittany Pfeil, who started in the first game of her career. Coming out of the half in a 1-1 tie, Nebraska again landed the go-ahead goal, this time on a shot from freshman Shay Powell at 68:07. But the lead would not hold as Minnesota tied the game for the second time with under nine minutes remaining to secure the 2-2 draw.

 

On the game, Pfeil earned a career-high six saves on eight shots on goal, while the Huskers were led offensively by sophomore Selenia Iacchelli with five shots.

 

The second game of the afternoon featured the Creighton and SDSU and again ended in a 2-2 tie. Creighton’s game-tying goal was scored by Lincoln native Anne Peetz, the twin sister of Nebraska defender Carly Peetz.

 

The Huskers once again took the pitch for a 3:30 p.m. contest with SDSU, playing two 30 minute halves and ending in a 2-0 shutout for Nebraska. After a scoreless first half that featured a 7-5 shots advantage for the Huskers, NU came out swinging in the second period, outshooting the Jacks 12-3 in the half for a total of 19 shots, including five on goal.

 

Nebraska’s first goal came off a penalty at 46:25. Dennis took the resulting direct kick, netting a 20-yard shot into the upper right corner for the game-winning score. Sophomore Aysha Jamani gave NU added cushion just a few minutes later, dribbling through the SDSU defense for a goal at 49:47.

 

Pfeil was strong in goal again for the Huskers, earning three saves and finishing the afternoon with a record of 1-0-1.

 

The Huskers continue their spring schedule next Saturday, March 31 with a 5 p.m. contest against SoutheastMissouriState in Kansas City, Mo. Nebraska returns to Lincoln on Friday, April 6 to take on Denver at Noon at the Nebraska Soccer Field.