Nebraska Upends No. 8 Texas, 2-1

Lincoln-Senior forward Aysha Jamani notched her third goal of the season in the 59th minute to lift the Nebraska women’s soccer team to a 2-1 upset of previously unbeaten and eighth-ranked Texas in front of a season-high 896 fans at the Nebraska Soccer Field on Friday. The win marked Nebraska’s highest defeat of a ranked opponent since toppling No. 8 Kansas in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Championship.

 

The win was Nebraska's fifth straight victory and pushed the Huskers' unbeaten streak to eight consecutive games. NU is now 7-4-1 on the season and 3-0-0 in the Big 12 Conference for the first time since 2004. While Nebraska kept its unbeaten streak alive, the Longhorns fell for the first time this season after opening the season with a nine-game unbeaten streak. Texas dropped to 7-1-2 overall and 0-1-1 in Big 12 play.

 

Jamani found the back of the net after a scramble in the deep right corner following a corner kick. Junior defender Anna Caniglia touched the corner out to Jamani who passed it back to her. Caniglia tangled with a UT defender before barely pushing the ball to Jamani deeper in the corner. Jamani cranked out a high shot that found its way over UT goalkeeper Dianna Pfenningner’s outstretched arms and into the far corner of the net. The goal was Jamani’s first since scoring two against North Dakota State on Sept. 19.

 

Caniglia also connected with a Husker teammate off another corner for Nebraska’s first goal. Caniglia took a scorching corner that sophomore midfielder Anna White headed into the back of the net in the 19th minute. The goal was the first of the season for White, who did not play last weekend due to an illness. Caniglia recorded her first career multi-assist game in setting up both Husker goals. A Nebraska player has had two assists in two consecutive games, after Selenia Iacchelli’s two assists against Missouri last Sunday.

 

Texas found the back of the net in the 34th minute courtesy of Kasey Moore, who headed a ball over NU goalkeeper Brittany Pfeil. The Longhorns nearly equalized the score with less than 10 minutes left in the game, but their apparent goal was called back due to an offside penalty.

 

The Nebraska offense generated 12 shots in the game, including five on goal, and scored two goals on a Texas defense that had allowed just four scores through nine games and never more than one in a single game. The Husker defense held the Longhorn offense to an opponent season-low one shot on goal and surrendered just 11 total shots. NU's win was its first over Texas since 2004 and evened the all-time series at nine apiece.

 

Nebraska hits the road for the first time in a month for a Sunday contest at Baylor. Kick off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field in Waco, Texas.