Huskers Defeat Texas in Big 12 Opener Behind Two Marlborough Goals

Lincoln - Sophomore Morgan Marlborough scored two goals in a 2 1/2 minute span in the second half as the Nebraska soccer team knocked off Texas, 2-1, Friday at the Nebraska Soccer Field to claim its eighth win in the past nine matches. With the victory over the Longhorns (6-2-1), the Huskers (8-2-0) moved to 14-1-0 all-time in Big 12 Conference openers.

Nebraska's win also kept alive the nation's fifth-longest home unbeaten streak, as the Big Red has not lost in Lincoln since October of 2008 while recording a 16-0-2 mark during that stretch.

The previous six meetings between the Huskers and Longhorns had been decided by one goal and the 2010 matchup would be no different as both teams fought to a scoreless halftime tie with only seven total shots (Nebraska 4, Texas 3). The offense turned up on both ends in the second half and senior Anna White sparked Nebraska's first goal when she was fouled in the 58th minute as she worked her way toward the corner. Marlborough took the ensuing free kick from a wide angle 25 yards away and shot over the Texas wall to sneak the ball inside the far post for the first goal of the match.

Although Nebraska was clicking on offense to create several goal opportunities, the Longhorns answered quickly when freshman Leah Fortune unleashed a 20-yard shot from just outside the top of the penalty box into the upper right corner of the net.

Entering the contest, Texas had not given up more than one goal in any game this season behind sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Gaul, who finished the game with seven saves. Nebraska would break that streak less than a minute after UT's game-tying goal as Marlborough was taken down inside the box and nailed the eventual game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the 61st minute. It was Marlborough's Big 12-leading ninth goal of the season and 30th of her career to move into a seventh-place tie with former Husker Nikki Baker (2002-04) on the school's all-time chart.

With Nebraska taking its second lead of the game, Texas nearly answered again with 10 minutes remaining when Husker goalkeeper Emma Stevens made her save of the game, knocking a 15-yard Kylie Doniak shot over the cross bar to maintain the NU lead. Stevens, a freshman from Corona, Calif., won her third game in a row to move to 3-1-0 this season. She tallied five saves against Texas.

Nebraska outshot its opponent for the seventh time this season as it held a 17-8 advantage over the Longhorns with a 9-6 shots on goal edge.

Texas was coming off back-to-back wins over ranked opponents after it upset No. 22 William & Mary and No. 10 BYU last week. The Longhorns are currently ranked in two of the three major polls, checking in at No. 18 by the Soccer Times and No. 21 by Soccer America. Texas is just outside the NSCAA Top 25 poll, receiving votes as the 29th-best team while Nebraska is No. 34.

Nebraska continues a challenging weekend Sunday afternoon when No. 6 Texas A&M comes to the Nebraska Soccer Field. Kickoff between the Huskers and Aggies is set for 1 p.m.