Huskers Knock Off Defending Big 12 Champs, 2-0

Lincoln - The Nebraska soccer team used one of its most complete-game efforts of the season to earn its first Big 12 victory with a 2-0 win over Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

The Huskers (7-2-3, 1-1-1 Big 12) were a determined team in their Big 12 home opener after beginning conference play with a pair of road games last weekend, dropping a 1-0 battle at Colorado and fighting to a 3-3 tie at Texas Tech.

Senior Shay Powell put the Huskers on the scoreboard quickly, when her shot from 10 yards away hit the crossbar and bounced over the line to put Nebraska on top, 1-0, at the 10:24 mark of the first half.

Powell's goal off an assist from sophomore defender Blair Slapper was her second in a row in a Big 12 game after she also scored at Texas Tech last Sunday.

Nebraska held OSU to two shots in the first half and a 1-0 lead into halftime that it would not relinquish behind a strong effort in the net from junior goalkeeper Jesica Mills. The Houston, Texas native played one of the best games of her career to keep a talented Cowgirl squad scoreless for just the third time this season.

Oklahoma State nearly broke up Mills' shutout with 13 minutes remaining, but a Seira Strawser shot from 15 yards away was snagged by the Husker goalkeeper on the left side of the net for her most notable save of the game.

The NU defense aided Mills' effort by holding OSU to eight total shots, and was responsible for the Huskers' second goal of the afternoon as seniors Carly Peetz and Anna Caniglia teamed up to ensure Nebraska would go home with its first Big 12 win of the season.

Just two minutes after Mills' diving save, Caniglia took a free kick from 30 yards out near the Husker bench, which Peetz headed into the top-right corner of the net to give Nebraska an important insurance goal en route to its sixth home victory of the year and third shutout in 2009.

With Sunday's loss, Oklahoma State falls to 7-6-0 (1-4-0 Big 12) as they have dropped their last three conference contests on the road to Missouri, Iowa State and Nebraska. The Cowgirls were 17-3-1 last season and captured the regular-season Big 12 title, while this year's squad is ranked No. 20 in the latest poll from TopDrawerSoccer.com.

The Huskers now look to make a move in the Big 12 Conference standings as Nebraska welcomes South Division foes Baylor and Oklahoma to Lincoln next weekend. The Huskers and Bears will kick off on Friday at 4 p.m., from the Nebraska Soccer Field, while NU will face the Sooners on Sunday at 1 p.m.