Huskers Take First Loss to Duke

Chapel Hill, N.C. ? Freshman Brittany Timko scored her first collegiate goal in her Nebraska debut, but the Husker soccer team came up short with a 3-1 loss to Duke Friday afternoon at the Nike Carolina Classic.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Timko's goal came at the 37:38 mark on a header off a long serve from junior Jenna Cooper.  The goal closed the gap for the Huskers going into the half, as Duke had taken an early 3-0 lead.

 

The Blue Devils struck first on a goal by Kate Seibert in the 18th minute.  Seibert scored on a cross from the right side with assists from Gwendolyn Oxenham and Rachel-Rose Cohen.  The Huskers came out flat in the first half, and Duke took full advantage.

 

Just five minutes after the first score, Duke's Darby Kroyer hit the top right corner of the net from nearly 40 yards out. The Blue Devils struck for the final time on a goal by Carolyn Riggs in the 35th minute.

 

Duke dominated possession throughout the contest, posting 21 shots to <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska's six.  The Blue Devils put 13 shots on goal compared to the Huskers' four.

 

"We started poorly and got behind early and had to fight our way back into it," Coach John Walker said.

 

NU goalkeeper Brooke Bredenberg surrendered all three goals and posted six saves before being replaced by freshman Katie Wright, who denied four shots on goal.  The pair kept the Huskers in the game with a combined seven saves in the second half to keep the Blue Devils from adding another goal.

 

"Territorially, we played much better in the second half," Walker said. "We just didn't get many scoring opportunities. Duke is a top five or six team and right now we are not. We have a lot to learn from this, but you play this level of competition to see where you stand and to get good experience for your younger players for later in the year."

 

Duke's Thora Helgadottir gave up one goal and saved three Nebraska shots.

 

The Huskers (2-1-0) were outcornered, 7-4, by Duke (3-0-0) for the contest.

 

Timko and fellow freshman Tanya Dennis joined the team for the weekend, adding a spark to the Husker lineup after playing with the Canadian National team against Mexico on Thursday night.

 

The Huskers will try to put the loss behind them and step up their games on Sunday, when they face the No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels at 1 p.m.