Huskers Drop Season Opener at Oklahoma

Norman, Okla. - The Nebraska soccer team entered halftime of its 2012 season-opening game tied with the Oklahoma Sooners, 1-1, on Friday night, but Renae Cuellar's second goal of the game in the 67th minute ended up being the game winner in a 2-1 victory for the Huskers' former conference foe.

The Huskers outshot the Sooners in both halves, with the NU holding a 4-3 advantage in the first half and a 9-7 advantage in the second half, but OU's Kelsey Devonshire came up with eight saves on nine of the shots she faced on the night.

Six Huskers produced a shot on goal on the evening, including a team-high three from freshman Caroline Flynn along with two from sophomore Mayme Conroy.

Conroy scored NU's first goal of the season and the second of her career at 18:15 to put NU up 1-0.Conroy attempted to put the ball through the box, but got the ball back on a rebound and blasted a shot into the top corner of the net.

Cuellar, who transferred to OU after playing the first three years of her career at Arizona, tied the game at 1-1 on a penalty kick at 24:55 following a handball penalty by NU.

Both defense buckled down for the next 40 minutes, before Cueller came calling again at 67:29 on an assist by Emily Bowman.

Conroy nearly tied the game with less than three minutes left in the game, but her shot was just a shade high, as it deflected off the crossbar.

The Huskers will now have a short turn around for their home opener on Sunday, Aug. 19, when they host the Drake Bulldogs at 1 p.m. at the Abbott Sports Complex. The Huskers are playing their home opener at the Abbott Sports Complex instead of the Nebraska Soccer Field due to construction at Ed Weir Stadium and a new playing surface at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

All fans eighth grade and younger will be admitted free to the game, while tickets for fans in ninth to 12th grade will cost $3 and adult tickets will be $5.