NU Wraps Up Regular Season at Iowa State

Game 19: Nebraska (9-8-1) at Iowa State (5-11-2)
Date: Friday, Oct. 31
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: ISU Soccer Complex, Ames, Iowa
Free Live Stats: Cyclones.com

Lincoln-For the second consecutive year, the Nebraska women’s soccer team will conclude the regular season against Iowa State. The Huskers battled the Cylones to a 2-2 tie in Lincoln last season and will travel to Ames this Friday for a 7 p.m. match at the ISU Soccer Complex. Nebraska has no game on Sunday, as it prepares for the Big 12 Championship, which begins on Nov. 5. NU is currently sixth in the conference standings.

The Huskers will look to end the regular season on a winning note against an ISU squad that is winless in the conference at 0-7-2. The Cyclones have posted a 5-11-2 record on the year, but are winless in their last five contests. Nebraska’s offense will attempt to capitalize on and ISU defense that has allowed 36 goals this season, including seven to Oklahoma State last weekend.

Live stats for Friday’s game will be available through Cyclones.com

Scouting Iowa State (5-11-2, 0-7-2)
First-year head coach Wendy Dillinger inherited seven starters from an Iowa State squad that finished eighth in the Big 12 last season with an 8-6-5 overall record. The Cyclones have struggled this season, though, and enter Friday’s matchup last in the conference standings with an 0-7-2 mark in the league and 5-11-2 overall. ISU is winless in its last five contests, and endured a 7-0 loss to Oklahoma State and a 2-1 loss to Oklahoma last weekend.

Offensively, the Cyclones rank ninth in the conference in shots (13.6 per game), goals (1.1 per game) and points (62). Junior midfielder Elise Reid and senior forward Leslie Hill lead the ISU offense with 10 points apiece. Reid, a second-team All-Big 12 selection last season, has four goals and two assists this year, while Hill has posted three goals and four assists. During the Cyclones’ five-game winless streak, ISU has scored just once, while posting four total goals in conference play.

The Iowa State defense is headed by Ann Gleason. The junior goalkeeper is second in the Big 12 with 78 saves on the season and has posted two shutouts. She has given up 25 goals for a 1.77 goals-allowed average.

Husker History versus Iowa State
The Cyclones are another team that Nebraska has dominated in the past, but recent matches have been closer. NU holds a 10-2-1 all-time record against ISU, as the Huskers won their first 10 consecutive matches against the Cyclones. Iowa State has rebounded to win the last two contests and tied the Huskers at two last season in Lincoln. The matchup has typically been a high-scoring shootout as one of the teams has scored at least three goals in nine of the team’s 12 games. The two teams have also combined for nine goals in the last two contests.

Last year saw both teams create offensive chances, as Nebraska and Iowa State tied at two in Lincoln on Nov. 2. The Huskers ended their season by creating 23 shots against ISU, including 11 on goal, while the Cyclones managed just 16 total shots and six on goal. NU did its best to seal the game in the double overtime as it created seven shots in the 10-minute period.

Nebraska continued its early offensive pressure as the Huskers scored first in the game. Forward Alexa Cardona put a ball across the box in the 17th minute that junior midfielder Selenia Iacchelli headed past the ISU goalkeeper. ISU had some magic of its own as the Cyclones scored twice in the span of five minutes to jump on top. Jordan Bishop found the back of the net in the 23rd minute, while Stephanie Kaphingst scored in the 28th minute. The Huskers countered with a goal of their own in the 56th minute to tie the game at two apiece. Cardona recorded two more points in the game as she notched a goal of her own off an assist from sophomore forward Shay Powell.

NU forced ISU goalkeeper Ann Gleason to make nine saves in the game, while Jessica Mills made four saves for the Huskers.

Last time out: Huskers Drop 2-1 Decision to No. 9 Cowgirls
Freshman forward Molly Thomas notched her fifth goal of the season, but Nebraska lost a 2-1 match to No. 9 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., last Sunday. The Huskers dropped to 9-8-1 on the year and 5-4 in the Big 12, while OSU improved to 15-1-2 overall, including a perfect 10-0 at home this season.

Scoring chances were few and far between, as both teams battled wind gusts of over 30 miles per hour. Thomas got Nebraska on the board in the 70th minute, when she deflected an Aysha Jamani shot into the back of the net. Junior defender Anna Caniglia sent a long cross from the left side of the field that an OSU defender was able to get a head on, but not clear. Jamani ran the ball down on the right side and made it into the box before cranking out a shot toward the center of the net. Thomas deflected the ball past OSU goalkeeper Erin Stigler, and is now tied for second on the team with 11 points. The assist was Jamani’s second in two games.

After a back-and-forth first half, the Cowgirls notched goals in the 53rd and 63rd minute courtesy of Yolanda Odenyo. The senior midfielder is on the Hermann Trophy watch list and proved why, as she collected two goals for the second straight game to move OSU to 6-1-2 in the conference.

OSU had an 18-11 advantage in shots, but the Huskers put four shots on goal to just three for the Cowgirls. Playing with the wind in the second half, Nebraska had several opportunities late in the period, forcing Stigler to make three saves in the half. Thomas finished with four shots, putting two on net, while senior midfielder Sari Raber took two shots and two shots on goal.

One for the Road
Nebraska picked up its first road win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., last Friday. Junior defender Carly Peetz scored on a header in the 72nd minute to drive the Huskers to the win. Peetz was set up by fellow junior defender Anna Caniglia, who launched a cross toward a wide-open Peetz in the middle of the box. Nebraska controlled the ball for much of the game, building a 20-14 shot advantage, including a 13-6 edge over OU in the second half.

All About Aysha
Senior forward Aysha Jamani was a critical component of the Husker offense last weekend, posting two assists in two games. Against Oklahoma last Friday, Jamani connected with Anna Caniglia on a give-and-go off a corner before Caniglia centered a ball that Carly Peetz headed into the back of the net. Her assist last Sunday came in the 70th minute against Oklahoma State. Jamani cranked out a shot from just inside the 18-yard box that Molly Thomas directed into the net. Jamani is third on the team with nine points on three goals and three assists.

The Pfeil File
Goalkeeper Brittany Pfeil continued her stellar senior season by earning her third shutout of the season last Friday in a 1-0 NU win over Oklahoma. Oklahoma State’s goal in the 53rd minute on Sunday broke a 236-minute shutout streak for Pfeil, her longest of the season. 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 50 saves this season and has allowed 14 goals in 16 games. Her 0.91 goals-against average ranks sixth in the Big 12.

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 120 corner kicks, which is tied for first in the Big 12. NU has taken 61 corners in its nine 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 2-4 against top-25 teams this season, with three of its losses coming at No. 22 Florida, at No. 7 Texas A&M and at No. 9 Oklahoma State. Nebraska also beat 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 seventh in the conference in shots and 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.

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. Peetz added a goal last Friday in a 1-0 win over Oklahoma, while Caniglia was credited with the assist.

Powell at the Point
Shay Powell, Nebraska’s leading scorer last season, has already assumed the title again this year. Powell, a junior forward, scored 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.

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 two weeks ago.

Goetzmann Named Newcomer of the Week
Nebraska’s Katie Goetzmann was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, the league office announced on Oct. 21.

Goetzmann, a redshirt freshman midfielder, notched three points to lead the Huskers to a 3-0 win over Texas Tech on Oct. 19 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.

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, Missouri 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 fifth goal of the season against No. 9 Oklahoma State last Sunday. Thomas got Nebraska on the board in the 70th minute, when she deflected an Aysha Jamani shot into the back of the net. Junior defender Anna Caniglia sent a long cross from the left side of the field that an OSU defender was able to get a head on, but not clear. Jamani ran the ball down on the right side and made it into the box before cranking out a shot toward the center of the net. Thomas deflected the ball past OSU goalkeeper Erin Stigler. Thomas is tied for second on the team with 11 points on five goals and one assist, after making 16 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 18 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 18 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.