Jackson Guides Huskers to 3-1 Win Over Iowa

Lincoln - Sophomore Jordan Jackson scored two goals to guide Nebraska (7-2-0) to its seventh win in the past eight matches and finish the non-conference slate on a strong note with a 3-1 victory over Iowa (7-2-0) on Sunday afternoon at the Nebraska Soccer Field. The Huskers' 7-2-0 record marks the best nine-game start by NU in nearly a decade, as the 2001 squad began the year 8-1-0. The non-conference finale victory also stopped the Hawkeyes' seven-game winning streak and pushes Nebraska into Big 12 play, which begins this Friday against Texas.

Jackson scored her fourth and fifth goals of the season Sunday afternoon, accounting for the game-winner in the 65th minute off a corner kick from Blair Slapper. The junior sent a perfect ball over the Hawkeye defense to the far post and Jackson elevated to head in her second goal of the match. The aggressive header bounced in front of the goal line and was just out of the reach of Iowa goalkeeper Emily Moran as it went upward to catch the bottom of the cross bar.

A native of Overland Park, Kan., Jackson's game-winning goal came two minutes after the Hawkeyes tied the game at 62:58 on a goal from Jade Grimm. Jackson increased her scoring totals to five goals and five assists on the season, a 15-point total that ranks second on the team and surpasses her entire freshman year total of 13 points.

After Jackson gave Nebraska a 2-1 lead with 25 minutes remaining, Iowa's Alex Melin nearly answered less than a minute later, but her line drive shot from 15 yards out was knocked over the cross bar by NU goalkeeper Emma Stevens to preserve the Husker lead.  Stevens, a redshirt freshman from Corona, Calif., had three saves in the match and moved her record to 2-1-0.

Nebraska took a 1-0 lead just before halftime (44:07) on Jackson's first goal of the day. With each team struggling to find an offensive rhythm on wet field conditions, Nebraska capitalized on its limited opportunities as senior Jaclyn White sent a pass to junior Katie Goetzmann on the left side of the goalie box, who then found Jackson five yards in front of the goal for a clean shot.

Leading 2-1 in the game's final minutes, junior Alexa Cardona created Nebraska's third goal as she was fouled in the box while attempting to dribble through the Iowa defense. Sophomore Morgan Marlborough converted the penalty kick to solidify the Husker win and nail down her team-leading seventh goal of the season. Marlborough is a perfect 3-of-3 on penalty kick opportunities during her two-year career, while she also took sole possession of ninth place on Nebraska's all-time scoring chart with 28 career goals.

The Huskers scored three goals against a tough Iowa defense that had shut out six opponents coming into the match, including a 4-0 win at Iowa State. Nebraska has scored at least three goals in five of its last six games. The Huskers also remained unbeaten at the Nebraska Soccer Field since October of 2008, recording a 15-0-2 mark during that stretch.

Nebraska now turns its focus to conference play as the Big Red welcomes a pair of tough opponents to Lincoln in Big 12 south foes Texas and No. 6 Texas A&M. The Huskers face the Longhorns on Friday at 4:30 p.m., before meeting the Aggies on Sunday at 1 p.m.