Huskers Drop Road Battle at No. 23 Missouri

Columbia, Mo. - Following back-to-back triumphs over No. 14 Texas A&M and Kansas, the Nebraska soccer team ran into a tough challenge, as No. 23 Missouri stopped NU's bid for its third-straight victory with a 5-0 win over the Huskers on Sunday afternoon in Columbia, Mo.

With the victory, the Tigers claimed the Big 12 regular-season championship as they hold a 6-0-2 conference record. Nebraska is now 10-4-4 overall with a 4-3-2 league record. The Huskers end their two-game road trip with a 1-1 mark after NU defeated Kansas on Friday, 7-4.

Nebraska was on par with a talented Tiger squad in nearly every statistical category, but could not slow down a Missouri squad aiming for its first-ever regular-season conference title. The Huskers took 16 shots to Missouri's 18, and were edged in corner kicks, 5-4.

After applying strong offensive pressure with five shots in the first 19 minutes, misfortune cost the Huskers on an own goal to give Missouri a 1-0 lead at 19:31. Nebraska looked to hold Missouri scoreless the rest of the half, but the Tigers began to create separation in the 39th minute as Kari Adam centered a pass to Candace Ruff from the short corner, who tapped in Missouri's second goal.

Nebraska led Missouri in the first half in shots (8-7) and corner kicks (3-2).

The Tigers went on to score three times in the second half, including back-to-back goals by Alysha Bonnick in the 50th and 58th minutes. Missouri has had at least three goals in five Big 12 games this season.

Freshmen Morgan Marlborough and Jordan Jackson led the Huskers with five shots each.

Despite the setback, Nebraska remains in position to finish in the top half of the Big 12 Conference. The Huskers are 4-2-1 in their last seven games and entered Sunday in fourth place in the league standings.

With one regular-season game remaining, the Huskers are sixth in the Big 12, but just one point behind third-place teams Colorado, Oklahoma State and Texas. The Cowgirls do not have any conference matches remaining, while the Buffaloes host Texas Tech and the Longhorns travel to Texas A&M next week. The Aggies are second in the conference with 17 points. Texas Tech is seventh behind Nebraska with 12 points.

The Huskers conclude the regular-season this Friday, as NU meets Iowa State at the Nebraska Soccer Field at 4 p.m. The game will mark 2009 Senior Day, as the Huskers will honor Julie Berkshire, Anna Caniglia, Lauren Isenhower, Brittney Lanier, Carly Peetz and Shay Powell.