Huskers Kick Off Big Ten Competition Against Minnesota

The Nebraska soccer team (5-0-2) hosts the Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2-0) on Thursday, Sept. 11 to open its Big Ten season. The match is set to start at 7:04 p.m. (CT) at Barbara Hibner Stadium and will be televised on the Big Ten Network. 

Fans can purchase tickets at huskers.com/tickets and are reminded that there is now a no reentry policy at Husker athletics venues. Concessions are cashless and Hibner Stadium will sell alcoholic beverages – there is a limit of two drinks per person per transaction and IDs will be checked at every transaction. 

Last Time Out
The Huskers took on Oregon State and Kansas State to close out non-conference play. NU claimed 2-0 victories over both the Beavers and the Wildcats. Kayma Carpenter was responsible for three of the four goals scored last week, and Reagan Raabe contributed one against Oregon State. 

With the two wins, the Big Red remained undefeated in 2025, while also handing Kansas State its first loss of the year.

Next Up
Nebraska will hit the road for Big Ten matches at No. 8 Penn State on Thursday, Sept. 18 and at No. 22 Ohio State on Sunday, Sept. 21. NU’s game against the Nittany Lions is set for 5 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on the Big Ten Network. The contest against the Buckeyes will kick off at 11 a.m. (CT) and be streamed on B1G+. 

Quick Notes

• Eight returning Huskers have already notched new career highs in at least one category – Cece Villa (consecutive scoreless minutes), Ava Makovicka (points, goals, assists), Reagan Raabe (assists), Reese Borer (points, goals, assists), Sadie Waite (assists), Maddy Osborn (saves), Ella Rudney (points, goals) and Kayma Carpenter (points, goals, assists). 
• The Big Red is undefeated through seven games in 2025, which was its whole non-conference slate. The last time NU went undefeated in non-conference play was 2000.
• Nebraska only allowed three goals across seven games in non-conference play. 
• The Huskers’ season-opening win against Southern Indiana was their largest season-opening victory since 1996. 
• NU has 11 regular-season home games scheduled for its 11th season at Hibner Stadium in 2025, which includes five non-conference matches and six Big Ten contests. Additionally, the Big Red hosted one exhibition.
• The Huskers’ Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch included Reagan Raabe, Lauryn Anglim and Sadie Waite. Nebraska was tabbed No. 12 in the preseason poll. 
• NU returned 10 letterwinners from last season, along with sixth-year Raabe. She was injured in both 2023 and 2024, but was a third-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2021 and 2022. Raabe scored the Huskers’ lone goal of their exhibition matches, her first net since Sept. 11, 2022. 
• The Huskers welcomed 15 newcomers in 2025, including 13 freshmen and two transfers. Alyse Then previously competed at Daytona State and SUNY, while Jo Sees comes to the Big Red from Kansas State. 
• During the 2024 season, the Huskers averaged 1,437 fans per game at Hibner Stadium, second most in Husker history and 11th in the nation. NU added a total attendance of 12,933, which ranked 18th nationally.
• Head Coach John Walker enters his 32nd season, alongside assistant coaches Savanah Anderson-Baer (third season), Ian Bridge (10th season) and Dan Ball (first season). Walker has a 376-203-64 record in his career and has coached all 31 seasons in Nebraska soccer history.

Scouting the Minnesota Golden Gophers

• Minnesota is 4-2-0 in 2025. The Gophers have grabbed victories over St. Thomas, Northern Illinois, Marquette and Brown and have taken losses against No. 12 BYU and Milwaukee.  
• Paige Kalal, Davy Mokelke and Freya Jupp have each logged three goals for the Gophers. Kalal adds two assists for a total of eight points.
• Sarah Martin has played every minute in goal for Minnesota this season. She has a 1.17 goals against average and has notched 31 saves. 
• As a team, the Gophers have taken 115 shots and only allowed 67 by their opponents. They score 2.33 goals per game and take 19.2 shots per game.
• Head coach Erin Chastain is in her fifth season with Minnesota. She has a 41-27-13 record with the Gophers and is 160-140-47 in her career.
• The Huskers are 10-7-2 all-time against Minnesota. The two teams last met in 2023, when NU grabbed a 2-0 victory.