Huskers Lose 4-1 to No. 3 Aggies

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln - The Nebraska soccer team scored first, but No. 3 Texas A&M fought back in a windy battle on Sunday, as the Aggies pulled away late for a 4-1 win in front of more than 400 fans at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

 

The Huskers' record drops to 5-8-3 on the year and 1-6 in the Big 12, while league-leading Texas A&M ups its mark to 13-2-1 and 7-1-0 in the Big 12.

 

Nebraska hung close with A&M through the first 70 minutes. The Huskers managed six shots on goal to A&M’s seven, while the Aggies had 15 total shots to NU’s 12. Each team managed three corner kicks.

 

NU showed it was not intimidated by the Aggies' high ranking, as the Huskers’ offense came out with zest. Sophomore forward Shay Powell scored her fourth goal of the season in the 11th minute of the game. Junior midfielder Sari Raber found Powell at the top of the box and Powell fought off an Aggie defender to place a shot in the upper right corner and beat goalkeeper Kristin Arnold.

 

Texas A&M’s senior forward Ashlee Pistorius brought the Aggies back as she assisted on an Allison Martino goal in the 36th minute and scored herself in the 40th minute. NU headed into halftime down 2-1, but did not wilt. NU had several scoring chances early in the second half as it outshot the Aggies 9-8 in the period.

 

A&M could not put away the Huskers until Martino got her second goal in the 68th minute and Pistorius sealed the game with another score in the 78th minute.

 

Junior midfielder Selenia Iacchelli had three shots, two of which were on goal, for the Huskers and Raber chipped in two shots on goal also. Freshman goalkeeper Jessica Mills made three saves between the pipes for NU.

 

Nebraska returns to Big 12 action against Kansas at 3 p.m. Friday in Lawrence, Kan., and squares off against Missouri at 1 p.m. Sunday in Columbia, Mo.