Honors and Awards
- Academic All-Big Conference honorable mention (1997)
- Nebraska Toughness Award (1997)
- First-Team All-Big 12 Conference (1996)
- First-Team Academic All-Big 12 Conference (1996)
- Soccer Buzz Third-Team All-Central Region (1996)
- Big Eight Conference Academic Honor Roll (1995)
- Nebraska Aerobic Power Award (1994)
1997 Season
Stephanie Vacek (pronounced VASS-eck) was a leader on a Husker defense that allowed just 0.82 goals-against average in 1997. She appeared in all 22 games, recording six points on six assists. Her biggest assist came against No. 4 Duke in a 5-0 Husker win on Oct. 20.
Her efferts earned her NU's Toughness Award. Off the field, she earned an Academic All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention. She finished her career atop Nebraska's all-time list in two categories: games started (79) and games played (80).
1996 Season
Vacek started all 24 games in 1996, despite suffering a fractured tailbone during overtime of a 3-2 win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 22. She was a leader of a Husker defense that shut down opponents, allowing only 15 goals in 24 games during the season. Nebraska recorded 14 shutouts and limited opponents to 0.625 goals per game and a sparkling 0.59 goals-against average.
Vacek scored two points on two assists and earned first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors. She was a Soccer Buzz Third-team All-Central Region defender. She recorded an assist in Nebraska's 8-2 win at Missouri on Oct. 18. Her second assist came in a 2-0 win at SMU on Nov. 3.
1995 Season
Vacek started 17 games for the Huskers in 1995, scoring four points on one goal and two assists. Vacek provided the Huskers with consistent wide play, excellent skill and precision passing ability. She scored her only goal on the season in a 3-2 win over Texas on Oct. 22. She posted an assist in an 8-0 win over Wyoming on Sept. 24, and her second assist of the seeason in a 4-0 win over Northwestern on Oct. 13. She earned a spot on the Big Eight Conference Academic Honor Roll.
1994 Season
Vacek started the first 16 games before missing the final two with a torn ACL. The speedy Vacek tied for third on the team with 15 total points. Vacek tallied seven goals and one assist. She had two multiple-goal games against Baker University and College of St. Mary, including the game winner against College of St. Mary. She scored one goal against Marquette, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Stanford. A well-conditioned athlete, Vacek earned NU's Aerobic Power Award.
High School
Vacek scored 14 or more goals in each of her first three varsity seasons at Papillion-LaVista. She switched from striker to midfield for her senior year and scored nine goals and dished out 16 assists. Vacek earned Nebraska Soccer Coaches Association second-team all-state honors following her sophomore and senior seasons and captured first-team honors as a junior. Vacek earned a total of 10 letters in four sports, including four in soccer, four in basketball, one in volleyball and one in cross country. Vacek graduated with a 4.09 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Other Information
Vacek played with the West Omaha Hot Shots Under-20 team during the summer of 1997. Vacek and Husker teammate Jackie Erdkamp led the Hot Shots to the USYSA Region II semifinals.
Personal Information
The daughter of Paul and Judy Vacek, Stephanie has a brother, Christopher, 9. She was a biological sciences major. She was born Aug. 22, 1976.