Huskers Drop 4-0 Game to Buffaloes

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Boulder, Colo. ? Nebraska allowed four first-half goals as Colorado notched a 4-0 win in front of more than 900 fans at Prentup Field on Friday.

 

The loss dropped the Huskers to 4-4-3 and 1-2 in Big 12 play, while the Buffaloes improve to 5-3-3 and 1-1-0 in the conference.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Nebraska outshot CU, 16-13, but the Buffs placed eight of their shots on goal. The Huskers managed four shots on goal on the afternoon.

 

Colorado jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, as junior midfielder Nikki Keller found the back of the net. NU goalkeeper Jessica Mills deflected a Michaela DeJesus shot, and Keller put the rebound home. The Buffs struck again just two minutes later as freshman forward Mel Hicks found sophomore forward Nikki Marshall on a cross from the left. Marshall one-touched the ball and put CU up 2-0.

 

Freshman defender Kym Lowry and Hicks combined on a give-and-go to beat Mills in the 20th minute on a Lowry shot, before junior midfielder Alex Cousins dropped a ball over the NU defense to Marshall in the 32nd minute for Marshall's second goal of the game.

 

NU’s best scoring opportunity came in the 58th minute off an Anna Caniglia corner. The sophomore defender curled a pass into the box that senior midfielder Jessie Bruch headed off the post. Sophomore defender Carly Peetz put the rebound in the back of the net, but the goal was called back for an NU foul prior to the shot.

 

Sophomore forward Brittney Lanier led the Huskers’ offense with three shots, including one on goal, while five Huskers recorded two shots.

 

Mills made four saves on the day, but CU goalkeeper Kara Linder matched that effort with four saves of her own.

 

The Huskers, who were shut out for the second straight game, played without junior forward Aysha Jamani who suffered a season-ending injury earlier in the week. Jamani was one of NU's top offensive threats on the year, leading the Huskers in shots on goal through the first 10 games.

 

Sophomore forward Shay Powell also missed the majority of the first half with an injury. Powell did return in the second half and managed two shots in the second period.

 

The Huskers return to action on Sunday at 1 p.m., as they face No. 3 Texas in Austin.