Walker Expects Overflow Crowd Friday Night

Huskers Host No. 4 North Carolina, Missouri

Soccer Promotes Pregame Ticket Purchases

Nebraska Athletics Weekend Fan Guide 

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

John Walker's soccer resume is loaded with coaching accomplishments: National Coach of the Year…Big Ten Coach of the Year…Big 12 Coach of the Year…NCAA Regional Coach of the Year, plus eight Big 12 Championships and two Big Ten titles. You get the point: Nebraska is a tradition-rich soccer program that features a proven system, an innovative coaching philosophy and the ability to recruit some of the nation’s most talented players.

Overall, that combination has paved the way for Nebraska to make 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, earn two trips to the NCAA Elite Eight and six trips to the Sweet 16, plus win 10 championships in two major conferences.

Friday night, Walker’s unranked Huskers host No. 4 North Carolina at Hibner Stadium in a non-conference matchup that qualifies as your classic Pack the House opportunity to show support for the gritty Huskers, plus see, perhaps, the greatest dynasty in NCAA history.

The proof is 21 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championships in 33 years, including nine straight titles from 1986-94. The 12 national titles that the Tar Heels did not win during that remarkable three-plus decade road to glory were distributed among nine other NCAA member schools.

Flagship Program Has Proven to Be a Big Draw for Husker Fans

“North Carolina is the pioneer program for women’s soccer,” Walker told me. “They've been the nation’s flagship program from the early 1980s and still are. They have tremendous ability, success and a coaching staff that’s been in place for a long time. We’re excited to play them again Friday night (at 7:05 p.m.) in our new home.”

Thirteen years ago, Nebraska rewrote its single-game attendance record when 4,830 fans watched the Huskers host North Carolina. Ten years ago, the two programs played in front of 3,620 fans in Lincoln. Four years ago, the Huskers and Tar Heels drew 2,319 fans for Nebraska’s season opener on a non-regulation size field adjacent to Memorial Stadium. Friday night, Walker expects to see an overflow crowd of 2,500-plus fans inside Nebraska’s Hibner Stadium facility that features comfortable seats, lights, a kids’ area and all the amenities.

“Historically, North Carolina is a premier program, and we want to play the best to be the best,” Walker said, acknowledging that three of Nebraska's non-conference opponents were Top 25 teams. “We want a really challenging schedule. It gives talented and hard-working recruits the opportunity to play a schedule that prepares you for the toughest and best competition possible.”

Nebraska’s DNA is blending talent with systematic player development and getting everyone to buy into continuous quality improvement through a power-packed schedule. “We now have a facility that will help us recruit the top student-athletes with great work ethic,” Walker said. “The first thing the BYU coach said when he walked into our new complex was how beautiful this place was. This new facility is already paying off in our 2016 recruiting class. It’s great to hear the feedback, even from those who I correspond with on email. They’ve seen what we have here online and know it’s good for the sport overall.”

We asked three Huskers Tuesday to describe their thoughts about Hibner Stadium, including:

Jaycie Johnson: Hibner Stadium Awesome, Feels Like Home

A 5-foot-6 junior forward from Lake Winnebago, Mo., Jaycie Johnson, pictured above, says Hibner Stadium feels like home “because of the atmosphere it brings and all the support we get from our fans.” Competing inside a soccer-specific stadium with lights and night games “feels like I’m right at home when I’m there and feels like we belong here as a team.”

A member of the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Soccer Team this past summer, Johnson became the first freshman in NCAA Soccer Tournament history to score four goals in one match. Two years later, she relishes the challenge to compete against North Carolina. “They’re a top team every year and very consistent,” Johnson said. “It’s a great test for us and gives us a chance to prove that we can play with any team in the country.”

Having bigger crowds “is an awesome thing for us,” Johnson said. “Our fans create the atmosphere and we feed off of it. It just makes playing at Hibner that much better. The support we’ve gotten this season has been out of this world. We’re so thankful for that support and hope it continues throughout the season.”

Nebraska’s new world-class digs are the foundation of a bright and exciting Nebraska Soccer future. “As a team, we’re starting a legacy and want to make sure it lasts,” Johnson said. “We want girls to visit us, see our amazing facilities, meet our incredible coaching staff and be inspired that Lincoln is the place for them, too. Our success, on and off the field, speaks for itself in the community and in the classroom.”

Jaylyn Oderman: Nebraska Soccer Well-Positioned to Succeed

Even though crowds aren’t prime motivators for Jaylyn Odermann, pictured above, the 5-foot-8 senior defender from Gretna, Neb., sees and understands how and why a world-class stadium can impact the future of Nebraska Soccer. “I can’t see this program going anywhere but up,” she told me. “With the new facilities and the increase in popularity of women’s and girls’ soccer, not only in Nebraska but in the U.S. in general, I see a very bright future. That’s why we’re striving to build a legacy, day-by-day and game-by-game.”

What’s important to the fan is meaningful to coaches and student-athletes. Overall, however, “I don’t think crowds have much impact on my mentality before games,” Odermann said. “I believe that you should be up for a game just as much, whether there’s only one person watching or you have thousands of people watching.”

Don’t be misled. “Having the electric atmosphere that we do at Hibner definitely helps spark our energy and bring an even bigger and better want-to because you have so many people rooting for you,” Odermann said. “It’s felt like home since our first game, and we’re into a routine and getting more accustomed to it every day.”

“Playing North Carolina and other ranked teams before Big Ten Conference play will help us tremendously,” Odermann said. “It will test us early and allow us to have more learning situations, giving us the opportunity to grow as a team. It’s always important to fine-tune our game before Big Ten play begins.”

Caroline Flynn: Leaving a Legacy for Other Huskers to Follow

A midfielder/forward, 5-foot-5 Lincoln junior Caroline Flynn is a unique blend of excellence in academics, in athletics and in life. Twice named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten selection, the two-time Tom Osborne Citizenship Team honoree also serves as President of the Nebraska Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Flynn joins Johnson, Odermann and Katie Kraeutner, a 5-foot-4 senior midfielder/forward from Canada, as captains of the 2015 soccer team. “We want to leave a legacy for others to follow, so we’ve developed and read a prayer before every game,” Flynn said. “We feel leadership starts with the captains, and we had the support of the entire team. One of the reasons Nebraska’s the best is the great support from our staff, coaches and student-athletes.

“Nebraska has provided us with one of the best soccer facilities in the nation, and we want to honor that privilege in a meaningful way,” Flynn said. “Tradition is important, and we’ve made that part of our game day. We wanted something to remind us how fortunate we are to compete in a program like Nebraska and in a stadium like Hibner.”

Flynn says the Huskers never want to take for granted the opportunity to play in one of America’s finest soccer facilities. “We want to play the best to give us the opportunity to be the best we can be,” she said. “We have an awesome home field. Every time we come out and hear the roar of the crowd, it’s impossible not to get pumped up.”

Tickets are available here for Friday night’s Nebraska-North Carolina match and for remaining home games against Penn State, Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Maryland.

American Outlaws Unite, Strengthen Friday Night’s Festivities

Friday night's Nebraska-North Carolina game day atmosphere features American Outlaws, a nationwide organization founded in Lincoln. The unified group strengthens and supports the United States National Soccer Teams. To enhance that unique experience, Husker Sports Marketing partner Valentino’s will provide thunder-sticks to the first 1,000 fans in attendance. The Outlaws will join the Husker Hooligans, pictured above,in the student section Friday night.

Husker captains believe the Hooligans’ drums create an intimidating atmosphere. “There’s a lot of energy and a sense of community,” Odermann said. “There’s rarely a moment of silence now. It’s all cheering and chanting. To me, it truly gives the atmosphere of a professional women’s game. It’s a very special honor to ring in a new stadium. We think there’s potential for this to become something big in the years to come. We want to create a legacy that lives on for years.”

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