Nebraska Soccer Bounces Back WIth 1-0 Shutout Over OKlahoma

 Lincoln, Neb. - The No. 25 Nebraska soccer team dropped Oklahoma, 1-0, on a rainy and cold Sunday afternoon in front of 190 fans at the Abbott Sports Complex.

"It was great," Coach John Walker said.  "We played hard.  We would have liked to score a couple more goals, but sometimes it doesn't happen like that.  We defended well and had good effort."  <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

With just over a minute remaining in the first half, senior Christine Latham sent the ball in from about 25 yards out to put the Huskers up,1-0, for the game. 

"It was a lucky shot," Latham said.  " I haven't really been shooting with my left foot, but you have to take shots in weather like this because bounces happen."

Nebraska escaped the first half without a Sooner score, after Jessica Talton got off OU's only shot on goal of the half, that nearly slipped through the wet hands of Husker goalkeeper Erin Miller.

Nebraska dominated on Oklahoma's side of the field throughout the first period, getting off 11shots in the half to OU's three.   The Sooners evened the playing field in the second half getting off 12 shots.

Sophomore Iman Haynes provided some offensive firepower in the second period, getting off two shots on goal that OU goalkeeper Catherine Wade saved.

 The Huskers bounced back from the loss Friday night against Oklahoma State to play a well-rounded game against Oklahoma, shooting the ball 27 times on the game compared to OU's 15 shots.  Nebraska also recorded 12 shots on goal in the contest, while the Sooners only got off five.

Oklahoma almost had a chance to tie the game with two and a half minutes remaining in the contest, when OU's Krissy Dawson shot the ball off of a corner kick, but Miller made a diving save to keep the ball out of the net and any chances of an OU comeback at bay.

"The players played smart and this is definitely a good win for us," Walker said.  "Anytime you have a loss, you expect to rebound.  Friday night they gave a reasonable effort, but we just didn't play smart.  Today we were smarter and had a great commitment level."

Miller recorded her 10th shutout of the season, posting five saves in the contest.  Wade snagged 10 saves in goal for Oklahoma.

 Nebraska (10-5-4, 5-3-1) will honor its seniors in its final regular-season home game Friday night against Colorado at 7 p.m. at the Abbott Sports Complex.