Huskers Earn 3-1 Win at Indiana

Bloomington, Ind. - Sophomore Morgan Marlborough scored in each half after junior Molly Thomas put the Huskers on top early to propel the Nebraska soccer team a 3-1 road victory at Indiana on Saturday. The match gives NU a three-game winning streak as the Huskers improved to 3-1-0 on the season.

Nebraska earned its first road win of the year despite being outshot by the Hoosiers, 19-10. The Huskers made better use of their opportunities, beginning in the fifth minute when Thomas scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season to give NU a 1-0 lead. The Omaha, Neb., native received a pass from Marlborough on the left side of penalty box and took a left-footed shot from 12 yards out that was tipped by IU goalkeeper Shannon Flower and then bounced off the right post into the net.

Thomas has scored all four of her 2010 goals in four shots on goal. The Huskers only took five shots on goal as a team, while Indiana had 11.

Marlborough had a five-point day that was highlighted by a pair of crucial goals in the 27th and 45th minutes. At 27:27, sophomore Jordan Jackson dribbled through several Hoosier defenders in the upper third and advanced a pass to Marlborough on the right side of the box, who then shot over Flower from eight yards out for a 2-0 NU advantage.

The two-goal first-half cushion was nearly cut in half with 23 seconds remaining, but senior defender Brittany Goosen came up with a critical save one-yard in front of the goal line to stop Carly Samp's would-be goal. Although the Hoosiers nearly made it a 2-1 match, Nebraska wasted no time out of the halftime break as Marlborough gave the Huskers a commanding 3-0 lead at 45:22 on a penalty kick after Indiana's Lara Ross received a yellow card in the box. Marlborough's third goal of the season is the 24th of her career, placing her two shy of reaching Nebraska's all-time top 10.

Indiana cut into Nebraska's lead with its lone goal of the match at 58:44 when Samp intercepted a Husker pass back to the goalkeeper and beat senior Tara Macdonald head-to-head. The miscue was the only blemish in another strong defensive effort, as Macdonald improved to 3-0 on the season in a season-high nine-save performance. The Austin, Texas native is the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after she helped NU to a pair of shutouts last week against Loyola Chicago and Loyola Maryland. Macdonald's 16 saves this season give her 61 in her career, tied for the ninth-most in NU history.

Nebraska returns home for a Labor Day contest against IUPUI this Monday at Noon. Fans will ticket stubs from the Nebraska football team's season opener will receive free admission.