Nebraska Visits Two Sooner-State Foes

Game 17: Nebraska (8-7-1) 
at Oklahoma (2-13-1)
Date: Friday, Oct. 24
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: John Crain Field, Norman, Okla.
Free Live Stats: Soonersports.com
Subscription Video: Soonersports.com

Game 18: Nebraska (8-7-1) 
at #9 Oklahoma State (13-1-2)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 26
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Cowgirl Soccer Complex, Stillwater, Okla.
Free Live Stats: Okstate.com
Subscription Video/Audio: Okstate.com

Lincoln-After wrapping up the home portion of its schedule with a 3-0 win over Texas Tech, the Nebraska women’s soccer team finishes up the regular season with a three-game road trip, starting this weekend. The Huskers travel to Oklahoma for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Sooners in Norman on Friday and battle No. 9 Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Stillwater.

NU is fifth in the Big 12 Conference, and will look to move up in the standings against a 2-13-1 Oklahoma squad. The Huskers hold a three-game winning streak over OU and will look to capitalize on a Sooner defense that has allowed 41 goals this season.

Sunday’s match will feature Nebraska’s third ranked foe in its last five games, as the Huskers face the 11th-ranked Cowgirls. OSU sports one of the most well-rounded teams in the Big 12, leading the conference in goals, assists and points.

Both schools will provide free live stats and subscription video. Friday’s game can be found at Soonersports.com, and Sunday’s at Okstate.com.

Scouting Oklahoma (2-13-1, 1-5-1)
The Sooners sit at a 2-13-1 overall record, but did break their 12-game winless streak with 1-0 victory at Baylor last Sunday. Oklahoma also tied Kansas at one on Oct. 12 for a 1-5-1 Big 12 record and that has the Sooners 10th in the conference standings. First-year head coach Nicole Nelson returned nine starters from last year’s squad, but the Sooners are a young squad with only three seniors out of 22 players.

Offensively, OU has posted 10 goals in 16 games and just two in the last six contests. Sophomore forward Whitney Palmer has 14 points on seven goals, while sophomore midfielder Kelsey Allison has three assists. The Sooners, who have been shut out eight times, rank last in the conference in goals, points (28) and assists (8).

On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt freshman Lisa Jett has logged the majority of minutes in net, collecting 77 saves, but senior Traci Dickensen started the Sooners’ 1-0 win over Baylor. Dickensen earned the first shutout of the season and has made 12 saves in three starts. The Oklahoma defense has allowed more than three goals in eight games this season, including five goals twice. OU is second in the Big 12 with 93 saves, but last in the league in goals allowed.

Husker History versus Oklahoma
Nebraska boasts an impressive 10-2-0 all-time record against the Sooners, including a 4-1 record in Norman. Oklahoma posted wins over the Huskers in 2000 and 2004, but Nebraska has won the last three meetings between the programs.

Nebraska faced Oklahoma in its conference opener last season, and the 1-0 victory in Lincoln allowed the Huskers to stay unbeaten in Big 12 all-time. NU managed only one goal, but the Huskers dominated every facet of the game. Nebraska attempted 21 shots, 12 of which were on goal, while Oklahoma only managed four total shots. The difference maker came early in the game as defender Carly Peetz found the back of the net in the fourth minute. Midfielder Selenia Iacchelli capitalized on a free kick from 40 yards out and found Peetz for a perfect header. The Huskers couldn’t quite score the rest of the game, but they applied heavy offensive pressure as they found the post several times in the second half.

Scouting Oklahoma State (13-1-2, 4-1-2)
The Cowgirls finished sixth in the conference last year, but an impressive run in the Big 12 Championships got them into the NCAA Championships, where they advanced to the second round. Fourth-year head coach Colin Carmichael returns nine starters from that squad and has the Cowgirls ranked No. 9 in the latest NSCAA poll.

Oklahoma State possesses some firepower on offense behind senior midfielder Yolanda Odenyo and junior forward Kasey Langdon. The duo rank one and two in the conference in points and goals. Odenyo was first-team All-Big 12 last season and was named to the Hermann Trophy watch list this year. She has 26 points and leads the Big 12 with 11 goals. Langon leads the league in assists (11) and points (31). OSU has scored more than three goals in 13 of their 16 games and suffered their first shutout of the season last Sunday in a 0-0 tie at Texas. The Cowgirls are first in the Big 12 in goals (56), assists (43) and points (155).

The OSU defense has been just as impressive. The Cowgirls have collected six shutouts and not allowed more than two goals in a game this season. Senior goalkeeper Erin Stigler has started every game for OSU and logged more than 1,200 minutes. She has made 45 saves and allowed 12 goals to earn a 0.87 goals-against average. Oklahoma State is third in the conference in goals-against average (0.85).

The Cowgirls host Iowa State on Friday.

Husker History versus Oklahoma State
The Huskers own an all-time series record of 9-3-0 against Oklahoma State, but the Cowgirls have been victorious in the last two meetings. Nebraska won eight of the first nine meetings between the two programs, including a 10-0 victory in Stillwater in 1999, but OSU has shut out the Huskers the last two meetings.

Last season’s meeting was another tight one, as No. 16 Oklahoma State escape Lincoln with a 1-0 victory on a windy September day. The decision was the first home loss of the 2007 season for the Huskers and snapped a three-game unbeaten streak.

With wind gusts up to 35 mph, ball control was an issue all game. Both teams saw their chances early in the game. Midfielder Jessie Bruch put a free kick from 25 yards out off the crossbar in the 20th minute, while the Cowgirls found the metal unkind in the 23rd minute. OSU capitalized on its advantage in corner kicks in the 38th minute. OSU midfielder Annika Niemeier put the corner back out to forward Adriane Radtke, who found midfielder Yolando Odenyo deep in the box. Odenyo beat NU goalkeeper Jessica Mills to her right for the lone goal of the game. Mills made six saves in the game.

Last time out: NU Blanks Tech 3-0 on Senior Day
Several Husker seniors contributed solid performances, but redshirt freshman Katie Goetzmann stole the spotlight to lead the Nebraska women’s soccer team to a 3-0 win over Texas Tech at the Nebraska Soccer Field last Sunday. NU, who celebrated Senior Day by honoring six players in a pregame ceremony, improved to 8-7-1 on the season and 4-3 in the Big 12, while the Red Raiders dropped to 8-7-1 overall and 3-6 in the league. The win was the Huskers’ largest conference victory since beating TTU 4-1 in Lubbock in 2005.

Goetzmann notched her first career goal in the 74th minute after connecting with junior forward Shay Powell. Freshman Molly Thomas crossed a ball from the left side that a TTU defender deflected. Powell pounced on the ball and nearly went over the end line, but managed to forward a pass into the middle of the six-yard box. Goetzmann then flicked the ball over TTU goalkeeper Tina Rincon to put the Huskers comfortably ahead at 2-0 with less than 20 minutes left.

Goetzmann followed her first career goal with her first career assist less than five minutes later. Nebraska dominated the second period, racking up an 11-4 shot advantage and was on the offensive again when sophomore forward Michaella Fulmer dribbled deep into the left corner. She passed the ball back out to Goetzmann, who passed right back to her on a run into the middle. Fulmer dodged a Tech defender and unleashed a low shot from 20 yards out that beat Rincon to her right. The goal was Fulmer’s third of the season.

The Nebraska seniors also came to play, guiding the Huskers to their first victory in the conference home finale since 2002. Senior Midfielder Sari Raber notched her second goal in two games by putting NU ahead in the 12th minute. Fellow senior midfielder Selenia Iacchelli took a corner that Raber knocked into the net at the far post with her thigh. The goal was Raber’s second game-winner of the season, while Iacchelli earned her first start of the season after sitting out with a foot injury earlier in the season. Senior goalkeeper Brittany Pfeil made four saves en route to earning her second career shutout and senior forward Aysha Jamani lead the team with three shots in the contest.

The Huskers outshot the Red Raiders 20-11 and put five shots on goal to four for TTU. Nebraska earned six corners, while Texas Tech had three. Junior defender Anna Caniglia also registered three shots in the game, directing two on net, and five NU players had two shots. Nebraska also had two goals in the first half that were called back after an NU player was offside.

Goetzmann Named Newcomer of the Week
Nebraska’s Katie Goetzmann has been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.

Goetzmann, a redshirt freshman midfielder, notched three points to lead the Huskers to a 3-0 win over Texas Tech last Sunday during Senior Day at the Nebraska Soccer Field. The Omaha, Neb., native notched her first career goal in the 74th minute after connecting with junior forward Shay Powell. Freshman Molly Thomas crossed a ball from the left side that a TTU defender deflected. Powell pounced on the ball and nearly went over the end line, but managed to forward a pass into the middle of the six-yard box. Goetzmann then flicked the ball over TTU goalkeeper Tina Rincon to put the Huskers comfortably ahead at 2-0 with less than 20 minutes left.

Goetzmann followed her first career goal with her first career assist less than five minutes later. Nebraska was on the offensive when sophomore forward Michaella Fulmer dribbled deep into the left corner. She passed the ball back out to Goetzmann, who passed right back to her on a run into the middle. Fulmer dodged a Tech defender and unleashed a low shot from 20 yards out that beat Rincon to her right.

Goetzmann is the second Husker to earn the honor this season. Thomas was also named the newcomer of the week on Sept. 30, after scoring the game-winning goal in Nebraska’s 2-1 double overtime defeat of No. 25 Kansas.

Rolling Raber’s Way
Senior midfielder Sari Raber notched two unusual goals last weekend, including the game-winning score against Texas Tech last Sunday. Raber got the Huskers on the board first against Colorado last Friday when she collected a rebound off a Shay Powell shot. Defender Lindsay Poehling sent a high cross from the deep right corner that Powell knocked out of midair. The ball caromed off the post and across the mouth of the goal and Raber punched it in for her second goal of the season. Raber followed with her second-game winning goal of the season against TTU. Midfielder Selenia Iacchelli took a corner that Raber knocked into the net at the far post with her thigh.

Sending Out the Seniors
The Husker seniors ended their home careers on a positive note last weekend with a 3-0 win over Texas Tech on Senior Day. It was the Huskers’ first victory in the conference home finale since 2002.

The Pfeil File
Goalkeeper Brittany Pfeil continued her stellar senior season by earning her second shutout of the season last Sunday in a 3-0 NU win over Texas Tech. Pfeil collected a career-high seven saves against No. 7 Texas A&M and also posted six saves in both of her first two career Big 12 starts. She has made 44 saves this season and allowed 12 goals in 13 games. Her 0.89 goals-against average ranks sixth in the Big 12.

Wally’s World
Nebraska assistant coach Wally Crittenden will have some extra motivation this weekend, as he faces his former team in Oklahoma. Crittenden got his first experience at the Division I level while working with the Sooner program in 2005 and 2006. He helped OU post 14 shutouts over two seasons.

Big 12 Blowout
Nebraska’s 3-0 win over Texas Tech last Sunday was the Huskers’ largest conference victory since beating the Red Raiders 4-1 in Lubbock in 2005. The series has historically been a high-scoring affair. NU has posted three or more goals on TTU 11 times, including a 10-1 trouncing in 1999. The Huskers hold a 14-1 all-time record against Texas Tech.

Meet Me at the Corner
Nebraska’s persistent offensive pressure has led to plenty of corner kicks for the Big Red this season. The Huskers have garnered 106 corner kicks, which is first in the Big 12. NU has taken 47 corners in its seven conference games, averaging nearly seven per game. Nebraska’s 14 corners against Baylor on Oct. 5 were the most since the Huskers put up 16 against Central Michigan on Sept. 15, 2006.

Runing Into the Ranked
The Huskers’ 2-1 defeat of No. 8 Texas on Oct. 3 was a big win for NU. The victory marked Nebraska’s highest defeat of a ranked opponent since toppling No. 8 Kansas in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Championship. It was also Nebraska’s second defeat of a ranked opponent in two weekends, after the Huskers topped No. 25 Kansas, 2-1, in overtime on Sept. 26. NU is 2-3 against top-25 teams this season, with two of its losses coming at No. 22 Florida and at No. 7 Texas A&M. Nebraska also defeated Missouri on Sept. 28, who is currently ranked No. 20.

Hooking Up the Husker Offense
Nebraska has statistically dominated its opponents this season, racking up more than 20 shots against half of its opponents. NU has also posted more than 10 shots on goal against seven foes this year. The Huskers took a season-high 31 shots and 12 shots on goal versus Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 21, and currently rank fifth in the Big 12 in shots with 301 on the year.

The NU offense has been led largely by junior forward Shay Powell, who ranks fourth in the conference in shots and fifth in shots per game. Powell has pounded out 55 shots, averaging four per game for the Huskers, and took a season-high 10 against Stephen F. Austin. Her 10 shots were just two short of the NU single-game record, which is held by Christine Latham. Powell has found the back of the net six times this season, tying her for sixth in the league in goals.

NU Defense Getting Offensive
The Husker backline has been down right offensive this season, as three defenders have put up points to help Nebraska win.

Senior defender Lindsay Poehling scored her first point of the season with an assist against North Dakota State and added a game-winning assist against Kansas on Sept. 26. Junior defender Carly Peetz had an assist against Stephen F. Austin before adding another assist and her first goal of the season against Missouri on Sept. 28. Fellow junior defender Anna Caniglia notched her first career game-winning goal against Stephen F. Austin and also scored against the Tigers before adding two assists against No. 8 Texas on Oct. 3.

Powell at the Point
Shay Powell, Nebraska’s leading scorer last season, has already assumed the title again this year. Powell, a junior forward score two goals in two consecutive games to lead the Huskers to victories over UAB and Oakland. She also collected a goal in NU’s 2-1 double-overtime win over Kansas on Sept. 26. Powell led the Huskers in points last season with five goals and ranks first again this season with six goals already, including two game-winners. She has four assists on the year, including two last weekend.

Hot At Home
The Huskers have been hot at home this season, racking up a 8-2-1 record in games at the Nebraska Soccer Field. The Huskers lost at home 1-0 to UC Riverside on Aug. 29, but rebouned to real off a 7-0-1 record in the next eight games in Lincoln. NU wrapped up its home portion of the schedule with a loss to Colorado and a victory over Texas Tech last weekend.

Thomas and Powell Earn Weekly Honors
Two Nebraska women’s soccer players were honored for their performances in Husker wins over Kansas and Missouri. Molly Thomas was named the newcomer of the week by the Big 12 Conference, while Shay Powell earned a selection to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week.

Thomas, a freshman forward, scored the first game-winning goal of her career in the 107th minute of Nebraska’s 2-1 double-overtime upset of No. 25 Kansas on Sept. 26. Senior defender Lindsay Poehling sent a high, long ball over the KU defense where Thomas beat a defender and ran down the ball. After a few dribbles, she sent a low shot to the far corner of the net that Jayhawk goalkeeper Julie Hanley just missed. Thomas, a native of Omaha, is second on the team with nine points on four goals and one assists. She also leads the team with 60 percent of her shots going on goal.

Powell, a junior forward, notched a goal against the Jayhawks and added a game-winning assist versus Missouri on Sept. 28. The Dallas, Texas, native tied NU’s game with KU at one in the 71st minute after collecting a blocked Michaella Fulmer shot. Powell notched seven shots in the game, including directing three on goal. Powell propelled the Huskers to a 3-2 double-overtime win over the Tigers with a spectacular play. Fulmer put a long pass through that MU goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore came out to collect, but Powell beat her and a Missouri defender to the ball. Powell then took one touch toward the backline to clear a diving Dittamore and centered the ball to a wide open Sari Raber, who one-touched the ball into the back of the net. Powell leads the Huskers with 14 points on six goals and two assists.

On the Overtime
Nebraska’s two consecutive double-overtime victories against Kansas and Missouri marked just the second time in Husker history the team has won consecutive multiple-overtime games. In 1996, Nebraska followed a double-overtime win against Texas A&M in the Big 12 Championship game with a quadruple-overtime win over Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA Championships.

Putting up the Points
Nebraska has racked up three goals in six different games this season. NU’s three goals against UAB and Oakland were the first time NU has had at least three goals in back-to-back games since earning a 3-2 win over North Texas and a 4-1 victory over Drake in 2006. The Huskers have also earned three goals over North Dakota State, Kansas and Texas Tech this season.

The Huskers’ other three-goal campaign this season was against Northwestern on Aug. 22, and featured two scores by sophomore forward Michaella Fulmer. NU notched the scores in a span of 19 minutes to tally its most goals in a regular-season game since a 4-0 win over Lamar on Oct. 12, 2007. It was also NU’s highest point total in a season opener since 2005.

It was also the first time in Nebraska’s 15-year history the Huskers have erased a two-goal second-half deficit on the road, as they came back from down 3-1 to tie the game at 3-3 before falling 4-3.

Holy Molly!
Molly Thomas continued her impressive freshman campaign with her first career game-winning goal against No. 25 Kansas on Sept. 26. Senior defender Lindsay Poehling sent a high, long ball over the KU defense where Thomas beat a defender and ran down the ball. After a few dribbles, she sent a low shot to the far corner of the net that Jayhawk goalkeeper Julie Hanley just missed. Thomas is second on the team in points with nine on four goals and one assist, after making 14 starts.

Several Starters
Depth is one of the strengths for Nebraska this season and it has been reflected in the Huskers’ starting lineup. In all, 18 different players have earned a start this season, as only five Huskers have started all 16 contests. Those five are Shay Powell, Anna Caniglia, Carly Peetz, Lindsay Poehling and Aysha Jamani. Twenty players have seen action in at least eight of the 16 games.

First on the Field
Several Huskers made their first career appearances on Aug. 22 against Northwestern. Redshirt freshmen Katie Goetzmann, Bri Eilman and Blair Slapper all saw the pitch for the first time in their NU career, while freshman Molly Thomas came off the bench for her first career appearance. Fellow redshirt freshman Jamie Sanchez made her first career appearance against UAB on Sept. 7, while redshirt freshman Katie Goetzmann earned her first career start against Kansas on Sept. 26.

First in the First
For the second consecutive season a Husker freshman scored her first career points in the first game of the season. Forward Alexa Cardona notcher her first career goal, which turned about to the game winner, in a 2-0 NU win over Northwestern to start last season. Fellow forward Molly Thomas scored her first career points with an assist against Northwestern on Aug. 22 in the first game of this season.

Jamani Named to Preseason All-Big 12 Squad
Senior Aysha Jamani was selected to the preseason All-Big 12 soccer team in a vote of the league’s coaches on Aug. 15. Jamani, who earns the honor for a second consecutive season, is a welcome returnee to the 2008 lineup after an injury cut short her 2007 season. The Alberta, Canada, native started Nebraska’s first 10 contests, but a ruptured Achilles tendon brought her season to an abrupt end. A former Big 12 All-Newcomer team member and two-time second-team All-Big 12 selection, Jamani owns 11 career goals and eight assists in 47 starts for the Huskers.

Working Wonders in the W-League
Several Huskers stayed sharp this past summer by playing in the United Soccer League’s W-League, including Shay Powell who was selected to the All-League Team. Powell was the Ottawa Fury’s leading scorer, notching 12 goals on the season, and helping the Fury to a 13-1 regular-season record. She notched two hat tricks during the season and was named the W-League’s Player of the Week on July 9 for her hat trick against the Laval Comets.

Powell was joined on the Fury’s roster by Husker teammates Sari Raber and Anna Caniglia. Carly Peetz played for the Fort Collins Force and Selenia Iacchelli spent time with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The USL W-League is an open league that gives college players the chance to play alongside professionals while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league has 41 teams spread among three conferences.