Nebraska Soccer Sets Spring Schedule

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln, Neb. ? Nebraska soccer head coach John Walker has set up another spring schedule that features some of the best teams in the country and three homes games over two weekends in April.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The Huskers, who made their eighth consecutive NCAA appearance in the fall, will face four 2003 NCAA Tournament participants, including defending national champion North Carolina.

 

The Huskers open the spring season against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in Dallas, Texas, on March 28. The Lady Vols finished the 2003 season in the NCAA Sweet 16 with a 1-0 loss to SEC rival Florida on a penalty kick.

 

Nebraska will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., on April 4, to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. UNC completed a perfect season in 2003, going 27-0-0 on the year, and winning the NCAA Tournament by a combined score of 32-0. The Tar Heels defeated the Huskers 6-0 early in the 2003 non-conference schedule in Chapel Hill on Sept. 7.

 

After facing the NCAA champions, NU will face another 2003 College Cup participant in UCLA in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 8. The Bruins fell to North Carolina, 3-0, in the NCAA semifinals.

 

The following day, Nebraska will take on Southern California on the USC campus in the first of two meetings. The Trojans fell to Pepperdine, 1-0, in the first round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament. The Huskers defeated USC 1-0 during the 2003 spring season in Hawaii.

 

Nebraska will play host to USC and the Denver Pioneers in a double-header on April 17 at the Abbott Sports Complex. The Huskers defeated Denver 1-0 in the 2003 exhibition season. Denver also made the NCAA Tournament, falling 1-0 to Pepperdine in the first round.

 

The Huskers will wrap up the spring season in a home contest against the Canadian Under-19 National Team at 7 p.m. on April 23.