Nebraska Rolls Over Red Raiders 3-1

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lubbock, Texas ? Three different Huskers pitched in goals to lead the Nebraska soccer team to a 3-1 win over Texas Tech Sunday afternoon in front of 172 fans at the R.P. Fuller Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The Huskers bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Baylor Friday night to defeat the Red Raiders, improving their record to 8-3-1 overall and 3-1-0 in conference action. With the loss, Texas Tech fell to 2-7-1 and 1-3-0 in Big 12 play.

 

"It was much better than Friday night," Coach John Walker said. "We were much more physically dominant, and we should have scored a few more goals. It was a much more complete performance."

 

The Red Raiders put the first goal on the board, however, at the 20:33 mark when Jennifer Vasquez chipped a shot over NU freshman goalkeeper Katie Wright on a ball that was mishandled on the clearance.

 

Just over 16 minutes later at the 36:36 mark, freshman Jessie Bruch nailed her fourth goal of the season with a header off a corner kick by junior Jenna Cooper, knotting the score at 1-1. The score would remain tied through halftime and over ten minutes into the second half.

 

Sophomore Nikki Baker erupted for the game-winner at the 58:36 mark when she headed in the ball on a cross from Lindsey Ingram. Aly Scace played a great ball to Ingram to record her first assist of the season.  Baker has been on a tear the last three games, firing four goals in three contests after overcoming a dry spell over the first nine games of the season.

 

Freshman Ashley Carter wouldn't be left out of the action, as she added an insurance goal with just under 25 minutes remaining. Carter took a rebound and knocked it in for her team-leading fifth goal of the season at the 65:10 mark.

 

"Today we did a better job of attacking from the flanks, and we were more aggressive," Walker said. "We just created more chances."

 

The Nebraska defense played a solid game in the backfield, allowing the Red Raiders to take only four shots the entire contest and only permitting only two shots on goal on the day.

 

"The defense was very solid," Walker said. "They only allowed four shots. They were very good in the air. We had good organization and were much sounder in that area."

 

Nebraska was able to post 19 shots on the contest, led by five different Huskers who posted three shots each. Twelve of the 19 NU shots were on goal. The Huskers also took a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks.

 

Wright gave up one goal and made one save in 45 minutes in the NU net. Brooke Bredenberg saw action on the field and in the goal Sunday afternoon, posting one shot on goal in the field and did not face a shot in the net. Bredenberg picked up the win, improving her record to 7-2-1 on the season.

 

The Huskers return home for their final three home games of the season. Nebraska will take on Oklahoma on Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Abbott Sports Complex. The Huskers will take Sunday off before facing Oklahoma State and Kansas Oct. 17 and 19, respectively.

 

Eight other current, former and future Huskers can be seen tonight in the semifinals of the Women's World Cup when Canada takes on Sweden at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Nebraska freshmen Brittany Timko and Tanya Dennis have started all four games for the Canadian National Team and former Husker Christine Latham leads Canada with three goals in the tournament.