Huskers Take Bite Out of Bulldogs

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln, Neb.  ? Freshman Ashley Carter scored her second career goal to lead the Nebraska soccer team to a 1-0 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in front of 852 fans Friday night at the Abbott Sports Complex.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

           

While Nebraska dominated the entire contest, Carter was the only Husker that was able to find the net for a score. Kari Hogan got the ball to Carter from the right wing and the freshman from Marian High School headed the ball directly into the net at the 48:17 mark.

 

'Ashley's goal was good,' Coach John Walker said. 'She played really well from the beginning and we really needed that. In the first half we were very average at times, but in the second half we were very dominating.'

 

Offensively, NU played their best game of the season, taking 22 shots on the night, placing 12 of them on goal.  Mississippi State was only able to muster up six shots and the only shot on goal by the Bulldogs came with just over three minutes remaining when the MSU goalkeeper, Luisa Marzotto, took a free kick from midfield that resulted in a save by NU keeper Brooke Bredenberg.

 

Marzotto played an outstanding game in net for Mississippi State, with 10 saves on the night, coming under rapid fire from the Huskers.

 

'Their goalkeeper was very good,' Carter said. '(On my goal) Kari just got the ball in from the side and I got a head on it. I got lucky the way it rolled. But she (Marzotto) played really well, especially on the corner kicks. I tried to get in front of her all night and couldn't.'

 

Bredenberg posted her fourth shutout in six games and her third consecutive shutout at home for NU.  The Dayton, Minn., native only faced one shot on the night however, as the Nebraska defense played well and kept the ball far away from the goal.

 

Nebraska played well in Mississippi State territory, winning a 12-1 edge in corner kicks.

 

Junior Lindsey Ingram had the next best chance of scoring at the 52:04 mark when the Huskers got behind the MSU defense and Marzotto was out of the goal, but Ingram's shot was rushed and flew wide right.

 

Freshman Jessie Bruch once again looked solid in the NU offense, producing three shots on goal on only three attempts. Nikki Baker got off five shots on the night, with one on goal.  Jenna Cooper, Ingram, Ashley Tenn and Pam Karakusis each posted two shots a piece on the contest.

 

Nebraska continues the home stand Sunday afternoon when the Huskers take on Murray State at 1 p.m. at the Abbott Sports Complex.