Bartels' Two Goals Not Enough at Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minn. - The Nebraska soccer team saw its 2011 season come to a close on Friday night with a 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Gophers at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. Sophomore Stacy Bartels tied a career high with two goals to lead the Huskers, while junior Jordan Jackson also added a goal for NU.

The three goals scored by the Huskers matched a season high for goals allowed by the Gophers, as they also allowed three to Michigan State in a 3-0 loss to the Spartans on Sept. 25. Minnesota freshman Taylor Uhl was too much for NU, as the freshman notched her second hat trick of the season.

With their postseason hopes on the line, the Huskers jumped on the board right away with Bartels' first goal less than 30 seconds into the game. All-American Morgan Marlborough notched her sixth assist of the season when she found Bartels for her sixth goal of the year. Uhl would score her first goal of the game at 11:54 to tie the game.

Minnesota would add to two more goals in the first half to take a 3-1 lead into halftime following goals from Shari Eckstrom and Olivia Bagnall.

Sheridan Reinders found the back of the net at 49:22 for her first goal of the season to push the Gophers' lead to 4-1. The Huskers didn't give up though, as Bartels would come calling again at 53:21. Senior Michaella Fulmer produced her first point of the season when she found Bartels in the box to help setup the sophomore's second goal of the game. Uhl responded though on UM's next possession to again put the Huskers in a three-goal hole.

Again, the Huskers kept fighting and Jackson cut the Gopher lead to two with just under 20 minutes left in regulation at 71:17. Marlborough produced another assist when she connected with Jackson for her eighth goal of the season.

Uhl completed the hat trick with less than two minutes to go in the game when NU goalie Emma Stevens came away from the net to try and assist the Husker offense, but Uhl got to the ball first and was able to put the ball in an empty net.

The Huskers end the 2011 season with a 7-10-1 record overall, as well as a 4-7-0 record in their first season as members of the Big Ten Conference.