Huskers Drop Season Opener to Wildcats

Lincoln-The Nebraska women’s soccer team battled back from a two-goal, second-half deficit to tie Northwestern, but a late score propelled the Wildcats past the Huskers, 4-3, on Friday at Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill. Nebraska erased a two-goal second-half deficit on the road for the first time in program history, but still drops to 0-1 on the season while Northwestern improves to 1-0.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Husker sophomore forward Michaella Fulmer notched two goals to lead the NU offense, as a scoreless first period quickly turned into a slugfest in the second frame. Northwestern jumped on Nebraska early in the second with a goal courtesy of Laura Janowitsch in the 50th minute. Janowitsch took a free kick from midfield that found its way over Nebraska goalkeeper Jessica Mills’ head.

 

The Huskers battled back with an impressive free kick of their own in the 51st minute. Junior defender Anna Caniglia ripped a curving shot from the right side of the 18-yard box that slid past Wildcat goalkeeper Carolyn Edwards. Northwestern responded with goals in the 55th and 59th minutes from Amanda Hoffman and Emily Langston, respectively, to notch three goals in nine minutes.

 

Fulmer, who scored just one goal last season, breathed new life into the Huskers in the 64th minute with her unassisted goal. She fought off a Wildcat defender for enough time to crank out a beautiful left-footed shoot from 30 yards out that found the back of the net. Fulmer struck again in the 70th minute to tie the game, but had a little help. Senior midfielder Sari Raber and freshman forward Molly Thomas collected assists on the play, as Thomas notched her first career point.

 

Northwestern applied heavy pressure late in the game to notch its fourth goal and hand Nebraska its first season-opening defeat since a 1-0 loss to No. 1 North Carolina in 2004. The Wildcats’ Jenny Dunn scored after she secured a deflected shot in the box. Mills made two saves on the day, while Edwards had three.

 

The Huskers started the game with several early scoring chances, racking up eight shots in the first half and allowing the Wildcats just six, but Northwestern rallied late in the period with the best scoring opportunity of the period. Wildcat Alicia Herczeg put a shot off the crossbar in the 40th minute and Kelsey Bertamus collected the rebound, but put her shot over the crossbar.

 

Nebraska outshot the Wildcats in the first half, but Northwestern rallied in the second half to post 17 total shots to the Huskers’ 13. Northwestern collected eight corner kicks to Nebraska’s six.

 

Nebraska returns to Lincoln for its home opener against UC Riverside next Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Nebraska Soccer Field. Live radio and live stats will be available for that contest on Huskers.com.