Nebraska Opens Road Schedule Versus Drake

Lincoln - Nebraska will hit the road this week a mere three days after starting its regular season. Following their 2-0 victory over Northwestern in Lincoln on Sunday, the Huskers (1-0-0) travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to face Drake (0-1-0) in a 7 p.m. match on Wednesday.

The Huskers have racked up a dominating 11-3-1 record versus Missouri Valley opponents in the past, including a 2-0 record versus Drake. In its two contests, Nebraska has outscored the Bulldogs 8-1. Drake enters Wednesday's match after a 1-0 overtime loss to Northwestern last Friday.

Drake's offense may continue to struggle with Nebraska coming to town. Jessica Mills became the first freshman goalkeeper in school history to post a shutout in a Husker season opener on Sunday. Mills' six saves on the day were also the most by a Nebraska goalkeeper making her career debut since at least 1996.

Mills was not the only freshman to provide a key performance on Sunday. Fellow Husker Alexa Cardona's first career goal proved to be a game-winner as her goal in the 71st minute snapped a scoreless tie and gave the Huskers the win in front of more than 500 fans.

Cardona, a Lincoln Pius X graduate, capitalized on a Northwestern miscue when she stole the ball and battled a Wildcat down the right side of the field. Cardona beat goalkeeper Lauren Johnston to the upper left corner of the goal from 15 yards to put the Huskers on the board for the first time this season. 

The Huskers look to add to an impressive away record as they open their road schedule. NU is 60-32-3 all-time on the road, including 8-5 in road openers. The Huskers return home for a 5:30 p.m. match up Friday against Missouri State and continue the home stand versus San Diego State at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
    
Scouting Drake (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Missouri Valley)
Drake finished the 2006 season with its fourth consecutive Missouri Valley Conference crown and won the MVC Tournament to earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament. However, the Bulldogs lost five key players from that squad. Most notably, Drake will be looking to replace MVC Defensive Player of the Year Danielle Oswald, who graduated.

Drake returns two of its top three scorers, including Sarah Foote who set a single-season scoring record last season with 12 goals and was named most valuable player in the MVC Tournament. Sophomore Elizabeth Woerle returns after finishing second on the squad last season with four goals. Jenny Schroeder will goalkeep again after posting a 10-5-2 record last season with six shutouts.

The Bulldogs opened the 2007 season with a 1-0 setback to Northwestern last Friday in Des Moines, Iowa. Drake held the Wildcats scoreless through the first 93 minutes of play, but a Northwestern goal in the 94th minute ended the stalemate and earned NU the overtime victory.

Foote led the Bulldogs with five shots while Woerle added three shots off the bench. The Wildcats out shot the Bulldogs 16-13.

Husker History vs. Drake
Wednesday's match up marks the second consecutive season the Huskers and Bulldogs have met. Nebraska cruised past Drake 4-1 in Lincoln last season to notch its third straight victory and remain unbeaten on the season.

Fueled by goals from four different players, the Huskers fired a season best 21 shots to Drake's 13, and enjoyed 11 shots on goal while holding the Bulldogs to two. The victory was highlighted by several firsts for the Huskers, including first career goals for then-freshmen Brittney Lanier and Julie Berkshire.

The Huskers lost the shutout late in the game, as an NU mistake in the box led to the penalty kick from Drake’s Sarah Foote that snuck past Pfeil at 87:38 for the final goal of the contest.

Nebraska and Drake first squared off in 2002 as the Huskers won 4-0.

Freshman Facts
The Nebraska roster is nearly half freshmen this season as 14 of 31 players are in their first year in Lincoln. Three of those freshmen made their first career starts on Sunday in a 2-0 Husker win over Northwestern, including midfielder Anna White, forward Brittany Goosen and goalkeeper Jessica Mills.

Alexa Cardona, another freshman, did not start, but did score the game-winning goal in the 71st minute. Cardona became the first true freshman to score the game-winning goal in a season-opener since Ashley Carter in 2003.

The shutout was Nebraska’s first in a season-opener since 2003 and made Mills the first freshman goalkeeper to record a shutout in a Nebraska season opener.

Mills' six saves on the day were also the most by a Nebraska goalkeeper making her career debut since at least 1996.

Meet Me at the Corner
The Huskers’ eight second-half corner kicks against Northwestern matched or exceeded NU’s entire game total from 11 of its 20 games in 2006. Nebraska last had at least eight corner kicks in a half last season against Central Michigan when NU took 12 second-half corner kicks.

Corner kick duties for the Huskers have been split between midfielder Anna Caniglia and forward Brittney Lanier.
 
Jamani Earns Big 12 Pick
Junior Aysha Jamani has been selected to the preseason All-Big 12 soccer team in the league’s coach’s poll. Jamani returns to Nebraska for her junior year in 2007 as the Huskers’ most potent offensive threat following the graduation of three-time Big 12 Player of the Year Brittany Timko.  Jamani owns 11 goals and eight assists in two seasons and has started at forward in 37games. A former Big 12 All-Newcomer Team member and two-time second-team All-Big 12 selection, Jamani has consistently performed at the highest level for the Huskers.