Huskers Win 5-4 Overtime Thriller at Texas Tech

Lubbock, Texas - Freshman Ari Romero saved her first career goal for an opportune time as her rebound header in the 92nd minute gave Nebraska (9-4-0, 2-2-0) a 5-4 overtime victory at Texas Tech (9-4-0, 2-2-0) on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore Jordan Jackson provided NU with a strong attack in the offensive showdown by scoring two second-half goals and adding a first-half assist to complete a five-point day.

Jackson's second goal of the match resulted from a breakaway in the 86th minute and put the Huskers on top 4-2 with just under five minutes remaining. Nebraska's first Big 12 road win would not come easy, however, as Texas Tech's Jessica Fuston tallied a penalty kick goal two minutes later (87:36) before Mallory Yacullo scored the improbable game-tying goal with one second left on the clock (89:89) to force overtime.

Despite relinquishing a pair of two-goal leads and playing in its first extra-period game of the season, Nebraska maintained composure following the Red Raider comeback. After a Texas Tech foul less than two minutes into overtime, sophomore Morgan Marlborough took a 40-yard free kick from the right side of the field that hit the left post. Romero was positioned inside the six-yard box for the rebound attempt and headed in the game-winning goal past Texas Tech goalkeeper Colleen Pitts. It marked the first-career goal for Romero, a freshman from Surprise, Ariz., who has started all 13 matches for the Huskers this season.

Leading 2-1 at the half, Marlborough, Jackson and junior Molly Thomas teamed up to give Nebraska a 3-1 lead in the 51st minute. Jackson's sixth goal of the year occurred after Marlborough's corner kick to Thomas was crossed to Jackson at the near post. Texas Tech's Leanne Mihelich responded in the 56th minute to close the margin to 3-2 before Jackson's seventh goal of the season at 85:20 gave NU its late 4-2 advantage. Jackson accounted for five points on the day and has reached the 20-point plateau this season via seven goals and a Big 12-leading six assists.

Senior Colleen Goetzmann was the beneficiary of a previous corner kick opportunity involving Jackson and Marlborough in the 26th minute, as she picked up a rebound from Marlborough to score her second goal of the season and put NU on top 2-0 early in the match.

Marlborough scored the game's first goal in the 15th minute when she beat a defender 1v1 and shot into the upper corner of net for her Big 12-leading 12th goal of the season. With four points (two goals, two assists) against the Red Raiders, Marlborough has 78 in her career to claim sole possession of ninth on the Nebraska all-time list. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native has exploded in the past three weeks to score at least one goal in six straight games.

Marlborough and the Huskers had a similar tussle with Texas Tech last year in Lubbock, tying the Red Raiders, 3-3, after holding a 3-1 halftime lead. This year's Red Raider squad is one of the most improved in the conference and is off to one of their best starts in school history by beginning the year 9-4-0.

The Huskers now return home for a pair of Big 12 matches at the Nebraska Soccer Field this week. Nebraska hosts Iowa State on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. and then welcomes defending Big 12 champion Missouri to Lincoln on Sunday at 1 p.m.