Isenhower?s Overtime Header Lifts Huskers Over Cyclones, 2-1

Lincoln - Despite a second-half deficit in cold and rainy weather conditions, the Nebraska soccer team would not be denied on 2009 Senior Day, as Lauren Isenhower's header in the 97th minute broke a 1-1 tie and sent the Huskers away with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Iowa State on Friday afternoon.

Isenhower was one of six Husker seniors playing her last home game and came up with the biggest play of her career, as the win concludes Nebraska's regular season with an 11-4-4 record, the best mark by a Husker team since 2005.

"I knew Molly (Thomas) would cross it into the box, so I was just trying to get into any position to get a touch on it," Isenhower said. "Our goal today was to win, but being able to contribute means a lot and has a little extra impact in this game."

Friday was the fifth overtime game this season for Nebraska, but the first victory after the Huskers had tied the previous four contests. Isenhower's game-winning goal - her first since she scored twice against Lamar on Sept. 4 - earns Nebraska the No. 4 seed in next week's Big 12 Championship, as NU finished the conference season with a 5-3-2 record. The Huskers will wait to hear their opponent on Friday night after the conclusion of the rest of the Big 12 games around the conference.

Isenhower's goal came off a cross from sophomore Molly Thomas in the far corner. Thomas gave Nebraska an opportunity for the win as she scored her eighth goal of the season in the 72nd minute, just nine minutes after Iowa State took a 1-0 lead on a Mary Kate McLaughlin header off a free kick.

Thomas' goal came as the result of an Anna Caniglia corner kick, which was flicked by freshman Morgan Marlborough before Thomas gained control on the right side of the box and sent in the equalizer.

Caniglia increased her team-leading assist total to nine on the play, while Marlborough's contribution gives her 49 points in 2009 (21 goals, 7 assists), the fifth-best single-season total in school history.

Nebraska and Iowa State were scoreless through the first half, although the Huskers nearly scored on two shots off the post from Marlborough and senior Carly Peetz. NU finished the game with a 20-10 advantage in shots, including a 7-3 edge in shots on goal.

In addition to Isenhower, Caniglia and Peetz, Julie Berkshire, Brittney Lanier and Shay Powell also went out with a victory in their final home game. This year's senior class started a combined 227 games for the Huskers and led NU to at least 10 wins in three of the past four seasons. They also guided NU to an unbeaten 9-0-2 home record this year, the best home record since 2001 (12-0-0).

Nebraska moves on to the 2009 Big 12 Championship, which takes place next week (Nov. 4-8) in San Antonio at Blossom Soccer Stadium. The eight-team tournament is being played in San Antonio for the 14th straight year. The Huskers have won five Big 12 Tournament championships (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002).