Tempe, Ariz. - Nebraska's bid for a sixth straight victory was halted by No. 25 Arizona State (5-0-1) as the Huskers (5-2-0) fell to the Sun Devils, 5-0, on Sunday afternoon in Tempe, Ariz. Nebraska ends the Sun Devil Desert Classic with a 1-1-0 record after defeating Arizona on Friday evening, 3-0.
Arizona State forward Karin Volpe turned in a hat trick and began the Sun Devil scoring early by giving her team the eventual game-winning goal in the ninth minute. Two more first-half goals from Alexandra Elston and Miah Mollay gave ASU a three-goal halftime lead. Volpe then added two more in a four-minute span in the second half (64:40, 68:32) and the Huskers were unable to cut into the increasing ASU lead.
Senior goalkeeper Tara Macdonald played the first 45 minutes and suffered her first loss of the season, dropping her to 5-1-0 on the year. Macdonald and the NU defense had held four of its previous five opponents scoreless before meeting the Sun Devils. Freshman Emma Stevens was in the net for the second half.
Offensively, junior Molly Thomas led Nebraska with five of its 14 shots. The Huskers put four of those on goal but were shut out for only the second time this season.
Sophomore Jordan Jackson was named to the Sun Devil Desert Classic All-Tournament Team. The Overland Park, Kan., native scored Nebraska's game-winning goal in Friday night's victory over Arizona.
The Huskers now return to Lincoln for the beginning of a four-game homestand. Nebraska hosts Cal State Fullerton this Friday and then closes non-conference play against Big Ten opponent Iowa on Sunday. The Huskers will be looking to continue their home unbeaten streak that is currently at 15 matches (13-0-2) since the last loss at the Nebraska Soccer Field in October of 2008.