Harms, Latham Score As Husker Soccer Team Blanks BYU

Lincoln, Neb. -- Forwards Christy Harms and Christine Latham scored goals, as the fifth-ranked Nebraska soccer team topped Brigham Young, 2-0, in a physical battle before a crowd of 562 at the Abbott Sports Complex on Wednesday evening. NU improved to 10-2-0, while the Cougars fell to 8-5-1.

With the help of strong play from the Husker defenders, Nebraska first-year goalkeeper Erin Miller, a sophomore, posted her third shutout of the season. Miller faced just one shot on goal, recording the save. The Huskers outshot the Cougars, 22-9, and outcornered BYU, 10-0.

"It was a good professional performance," Nebraska Head Coach John Walker said. "When you see one shot on goal and one corner kick - those are good signs as we head down the stretch."

Harms, a sophomore, took a long pass from Latham, jetted past a BYU defender and fired a shot from the right side of the penalty area into the left side of the net at 25:08, avoiding Cougar keeper Jennifer Waldron. The Brigham Young senior keeper recorded seven saves in the effort.

NU held a 1-0 lead until Latham launched a shot, amid three BYU defenders, into the back right corner of the net from 20 yards out.

"I was dead-legged today, and I score on the hardest chip shot ever," said Latham, a junior. "My finishing was terrible. That was a good way to end.

"This was a good win against a really good team. Hopefully, we can keep it going."

With a goal and an assist, Latham upped her team-leading total to 24 points on nine goals and six assists. Harms has scored 12 points on five goals and two assists.

Latham, who fired a game-high eight shots - including four on goal, had a couple near misses. A Latham breakaway in the 19th minute of the game was foiled by Waldron, who dove to stop the ball at Latham's feet in the penalty area. Harms scored five minutes later.

Brigham Young sophomore midfielder Aleisha Cramer fired the Cougars' only shot on goal from the top of the box in the 27th minute. Miller made her 51st save of the season on the play.

With three minutes left in the half, junior forward Kori Saunders headed the ball off the crossbar, following a corner kick from sophomore Paige Phillips. Harms, who fired three shots, rifled the ball at Waldron from point-blank range in the 54th minute, but Waldron prevailed as she dove to her left.

The Huskers will take on Oklahoma State in a 7 p.m. contest on Friday in Stillwater, Okla., before traveling to Oklahoma to face the Sooners in a 1 p.m. game on Sunday in Norman.