Huskers Begin Homestand Friday Against Lamar at 5 p.m.

Game 4: Nebraska (1-1-1) vs. Lamar (0-3-0)
Date: Friday, Sept. 4
Time: 5 p.m. CST
Location: Nebraska Soccer Field; Lincoln, Neb.
Live Stats: Click Here
Live Audio: http://krnu.unl.edu/
NU Soccer Blog: Click Here
2009 Nebraska Soccer Fan Guide: Click Here
Promotions: Free schedule key tags to the first 400 fans; Free admission for Husker soccer summer camp attendees (8th grade and below) with camp flyer

Following a three-game road trip, the Nebraska soccer team returns to Lincoln for its 2009 home opener against Lamar this Friday at the Nebraska Soccer Field at 5 p.m.

The Huskers enter this week with a 1-1-1 record after they tied Villanova, 2-2, in double overtime on Sunday at the Villanova Classic. Nebraska also fell to Lehigh at the tournament for its first loss of the season after a 3-0 victory at Northern Colorado on Aug. 22.

Freshman forward Morgan Marlborough has been the Huskers' top scoring threat so far, leading the team with five points (two goals, one assist). Sophomore forward Molly Thomas also has two goals on the season, both coming in the win over Northern Colorado.

The NU Marketing Department will be giving out free 2009 Husker soccer schedule key tags to the first 400 fans this Friday. In addition, kids who attended Husker soccer summer camps (8th grade and below) will be given free admission by bringing their camp flyer to the game.

Tickets can be purchased at the field-level entrance on game day or by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED. Season tickets are $44 for adults and $22 for youth/seniors, while single-game tickets are $5 for adults and $22 for youth/seniors. UNL students get in free with their N-Card.

Husker History vs. Lamar
Nebraska leads the all-time series against Lamar, 1-0, as the Huskers defeated the Cardinals, 4-0, on Oct. 12, 2007 in Beaumont, Texas. All four goals in the contest came from current Huskers in senior defender Carly Peetz, junior midfielder Anna White and junior forwards Jaclyn White and Michaella Fulmer. As a team, the Huskers racked up 44 shots, their most in a game since 2000. Nebraska put half those shots on goal, as 22 were the most shots on net since 2002.

Scouting the Lamar Cardinals
Lamar is winless on the 2009 season as the Cardinals come to Lincoln with an 0-3-0 record. Head coach Dewi Hardman's squad has been competitive, however, with two losses coming by one goal (at Louisiana Tech, 3-2 2OT; vs. North Dakota State, 2-1). The Cardinals' other defeat came at Big 12 foe Baylor, 3-0.

Beth Squirres and Lisa Topping have paced Lamar this season, as each has registered a goal and assist. Goalkeeper Jennifer Gibbs holds a 2.52 goals-against average, giving up eight scores this season and tallying 16 saves in three losses.

The Cardinals were 4-11-1 in 2008 with a 2-6-1 mark in conference play to finish eighth in the 10-team Southland Conference. Lamar is only in its third year as a women's soccer program.

Marlborough Leading the Way
Freshman Morgan Marlborough is Nebraska's top point-getter through three games as she has produced five points (2 goals, 1 assist). She was voted to the Villanova Classic All-Tournament Team last weekend following a goal in NU's 2-2 double-overtime tie against Villanova. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native started her collegiate career in strong fashion by scoring the first goal of the 2009 season in Nebraska's 3-0 win over Northern Colorado on Aug. 22. Marlborough also added an assist to finish the game with three points, tying Lindsay Eddleman for the most points by a freshman in a season opener in school history. Eddleman did so in a 8-0 win over Oklahoma on Aug. 30, 1996.

Macdonald on Top of Big 12 Conference
Junior goalkeeper Tara Macdonald ranks first in the Big 12 in total saves this season with 17. The Oklahoma transfer has started two games for the Huskers, posting a shutout with eight saves at Northern Colorado (3-0) before stopping nine shots in Nebraska's 2-2 tie against Villanova. Her 8.50 saves per game average is also No. 1 in the Big 12 Conference.

The Huskers in Home Openers
Nebraska holds an 8-5-2 all-time record in home openers, including a 2-1-1 mark since the Huskers moved to the Nebraska Soccer Field in 2005.

2008-UC-Riverside (L, 0-1)
2007-Northwestern (W, 2-0)
2006-Wright State (T, 1-1 2OT)
2005-Minnesota (W, 3-1)
2004-#1 North Carolina (L, 0-1)
2003-DePaul (W, 1-0)
2002-#2 North Carolina (T, 1-1)
2001-Arizona (W, 4-2)
2000-Arkansas-Little Rock (W, 11-0)
1999-Texas Tech (W, 1-0)
1998-UW-Milwaukee (L, 1-2 2OT)
1997-DePaul (W, 4-1)
1996-Oklahoma (W, 8-0)
1995-Creighton (L, 0-1)
1994-Creighton (L, 1-3)

Huskers.com Features New NU Soccer Blog
Huskers.com has added the NU Soccer Blog, another place to visit when looking to stay up to date and follow everything surrounding Nebraska soccer. The blog will include interesting news, notes and tidbits surrounding the team as the Huskers continue on in the 2009 season.

On game days, check out the blog for the latest updates as the Huskers get ready for kickoff and follow along throughout the game.

E-mail bgries@huskers.com if you have any questions or suggestions.

Review: Huskers, Wildcats Battle to 2-2 Tie at Villanova Classic
Nebraska carried a one-goal lead into the final minute, but the Huskers gave up a score with nine seconds remaining in regulation as they battled to a 2-2 double overtime tie against Villanova on Sunday, Aug. 30 in Villanova, Pa.

Senior defenders Carly Peetz and Anna Caniglia teamed up for what looked to be the game-winning score in the 77th minute, when Caniglia sent a free kick from the right sideline directly in front of the goalie box. Congestion ensued in front of the net, but Peetz was able to push the ball past Villanova goalkeeper Molly Williams to give the Huskers a 2-1 lead.

Villanova forward Katie Ryan then turned up the heat and took four shots in the final minutes, including one attempt in the 89th minute that slid near the post before Nebraska goalkeeper Tara Macdonald snagged the ball from crossing the goal line. Sixty-two seconds later, Ryan made good on her final opportunity when she chased down a long ball near the top of the penalty box and sent it over Macdonald's head for the game-tying score.

Neither team was able to convert in the overtime periods, as both teams had ample opportunities to score with seven shots apiece in the extra sessions, including three shots on goal. Nebraska had one of its best chances as time was expiring in the first overtime when freshman Jordan Jackson saw a small window from the right side of the penalty box, but her cross-shot sailed just left of the goal.

Nebraska trailed 1-0 at halftime before notching its first goal of the game in the 57th minute on a header by freshman Morgan Marlborough. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native used a terrific pass from the corner from senior Shay Powell and headed the ball into the upper left side of the goal for her second score of the season.

Not only did Marlborough's goal tie the game at 1-1, but it also relieved some pressure, as the Huskers were due for a score after controlling the possession throughout the majority of the first half. Nebraska outshot Villanova, 26-25, marking the most shots by the Huskers in a road game since Oct. 12, 2007 in a 4-0 shutout at Lamar (44 shots).

In the net, Macdonald registered nine saves for Nebraska, while playing all 110 minutes. Peetz, Marlborough and junior midfielder Anna White were named to the Villanova Classic All-Tournament team. Peetz and Marlborough each had one goal in the tournament, while White was solid in the midfield, tallying four shots in two games, including two on net.

Up Next: Huskers Host adidas Classic
The Huskers welcome four teams to the Nebraska Soccer Field for the adidas Husker Classic Sept. 11-13. Nebraska faces North Dakota on Friday, Sept. 11 at 5 p.m., before taking on Akron on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 12:30 p.m. Creighton will also make the trip to Lincoln, as the Bluejays meet Akron on Friday at 3 p.m., and North Dakota on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Follow Husker Soccer on Twitter
Follow the Husker soccer program online at www.twitter.com/NebraskaSoccer.              

Join the Nebraska Soccer E-mail List
To join the 2009 Nebraska Soccer E-mail List, please e-mail bgries@huskers.com.