Huskers Overcome Two-Goal Deficit to Defeat Missouri, 4-2

Lincoln - After falling behind 2-0 in the opening minutes the Nebraska soccer team scored four second-half goals to defeat defending Big 12 champion Missouri at the Nebraska Soccer Field on Sunday afternoon, 4-2. The Huskers (11-4-0, 4-2-0) matched last year's win total in the process and maintained its second-place position in the Big 12 standings with two weeks remaining.

The comeback marks the biggest come-from-behind win since Aug. 29, 2004 when the Huskers overcame the same deficit to down Creighton, 4-2, at the Abbott Sports Complex. On Sunday afternoon, Nebraska gave up a pair of Missouri goals in the first 11 minutes to find itself in a 2-0 hole. The Huskers created several offensive opportunities in the first half and led the shot battle (11-4) but could not get past Missouri goalkeeper Jessica Gwin, who saved three shots on goal from sophomores Jordan Jackson and Morgan Marlborough to main a 2-0 Tiger lead at the intermission.

Nebraska came out on fire in the second half and scored its first goal at 47:02 when Marlborough broke free down the right sideline. The forward centered a pass to junior Alexa Cardona, who flipped the ball behind her with her right foot past Gwin to account for her first goal of the season.

Ten minutes later, Nebraska came up with another prime opportunity as Marlborough took a pass from Jackson on the left side and dribbled to the near post. She then delivered a perfectly-timed pass to senior midfielder Colleen Goetzmann in front of the net for a one-touch shot to tie the game at 2-2. Goetzmann has scored in two of the past three games, while Marlborough completed her second multiple-assist game of the season.

Riding the momentum of the game-tying goal, NU continued its offensive pressure to come up with the game-winner in the 62nd minute on Jackson's ninth goal of the year. Jackson received a long, crossing pass from junior defender Katie Goetzmann on the right side of the penalty box and sent a one-touch, sliding shot to the left post to complete the comeback. Jackson entered the match ranked second in the Big 12 in points and increased that total to 26 with a three-point day on one goal and one assist.

Marlborough, the only player ahead of Jackson in the league point standings, had another remarkable game of her own as she scored for a school-record eighth straight match with an unassisted goal in the 76th minute to put NU ahead 4-2. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native used a slide tackle to obtain possession on the right sideline and then immediately dribbled into the penalty box and sent a low shot to the left post for her 15th goal of the season. The Big 12 leader in goals (15) and points (38), Marlborough has had three straight games with at least four points.

The win marks the second consecutive season that Nebraska has defeated the defending Big 12 regular-season champion, as the Huskers also downed Oklahoma State last October after the Cowgirls won the 2008 conference title.

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Emma Stevens improved her record to 5-1-0 with the win over the Tigers as she totaled three saves in the complete-game effort. Gwin finished the match with six saves but only stopped three of NU's seven shots on goal in the second half. Nebraska outshot Missouri, 23-11, giving the Huskers at least 20 shots for the fourth straight game. Nebraska is only the second team to score at least four goals on Missouri this season, joining No. 1 North Carolina, as the Tar Heels defeated the Tigers, 6-1, on Aug. 29.

Nebraska now travels south for a pair of tough Big 12 matches at Oklahoma and No. 7 Oklahoma State. The Huskers meet the Sooners on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Norman before traveling to Stillwater for Saturday's 1 p.m. match against the Cowgirls. Oklahoma State currently leads the conference standings and was the Big 12 Tournament champion last year.