Preston, Latham score twice as Huskers down Florida 7-2

Lincoln -- The Nebraska soccer team hammered three goals in less than three minutes midway through the first half en route to a 7-2 victory over Florida at the Abbott Sports Complex Friday night. Husker forwards Becky Preston and Christine Latham, who both scored in NU's initial spurt, each added a second goal in the second half before a crowd of 1,524.

Despite losing its four-game shutout streak, Nebraska improved to 5-0-0, while the Gators fell to 2-3-0. The Huskers outshot Florida 17-13 and outcornered the Gators 9-2.

Preston, who also assisted Latham's first goal, jumped into a tie for the team lead with 15 points on the season. The junior from Omaha, Neb., has scored five goals and recorded five assists.

"I'm so pleased with Becky," Nebraska Head Coach John Walker said. "She's been someone that we've had to push to shoot the ball. That's the final piece of the puzzle."

Latham, who sat out NU's match with Drury last weekend, has now scored 13 points on a team-high six goals and one assist this year. Husker midfielder Meghan Anderson assisted Latham on both of her goals, and added her third assist of the game on Preston's score at 82:11.

"Somehow, we just always seem to find each other," Preston said. "It was a perfect ball."

Anderson now owns a team-high 10 assists this season, and is tied at 15 for the team lead in points with Preston. Both attended Omaha Burke High School.

Also scoring for the Huskers in the effort were senior Jenny Benson (21:55), junior Kelly Rheem (58:39), and freshman Marie-Claude Henry (85:38). Henry capped off the seven-goal effort on a pass from Paige Phillips at 85:38.

Defensively for the Huskers, senior Karina LeBlanc notched three saves, but surrendered her first goal in 379:59 minutes - dating back to last season. Florida's Erica Schubert scored at 64:52 while LeBlanc was on the ground after being kicked in the head. Schubert scored again at 75:20.

"I don't think there was a thing she could do about either goal," Walker said. "They were two good goals by Florida. Karina really wasn't at fault."

The Huskers will end a five-game homestand on Sunday, Sept. 10, in a 1 p.m. contest against 24th-ranked Purdue at the Abbott Sports Complex.

 

Scoring Summary:

Time	Player (Team)	Assist
21:55	Jenny Benson (Nebraska)	Unassisted
23:16	Becky Preston (Nebraska)	Unassisted
24:12	Christine Latham (Nebraska)	Meghan Anderson, Preston
58:39	Kelly Rheem (Nebraska)	Unassisted
62:55	Latham (Nebraska)	Anderson
64:52	Erica Schubert (Florida)	Andi Sellers
75:20	Schubert (Florida)	Sellers
82:11	Preston (Nebraska)	Anderson
85:38	Marie-Claude Henry (Nebraska)	Paige Phillips

 

Shots: Nebraska 17, Florida 13

Shots on Goal: Nebraska 12, Florida 5

Corner Kicks: Nebraska 9, Florida 2

Goalkeeper Saves: Florida 5 (Jordan Kellgren 4, Regan Wiesemann 1), Nebraska 3 (Karina LeBlanc 3)

Fouls: Nebraska 22, Florida 15

Cautions: Angie Olson, Florida (32:59); Danica Carey, Nebraska (86:50)

Attendance: 1,524