NU Opens Season With Defending National Champs

The Nebraska soccer team will open the 2004 season against defending national champion North Carolina in the second game of the adidas Invitational at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27 at the Abbott Sports Complex.

Friday night’s match with the Tar Heels should draw a large crowd. The only time the two teams met in Lincoln, a school-record 4,830 fans were on hand to see the teams play to a 1-1 tie in 2002.

Adding to the excitement surrounding Friday’s game will be the presence of the Nebraska football team. Head Coach Bill Callahan, his staff, and the 2004 Huskers will all be in attendance. Coach Callahan and his staff will also be introduced at halftime of the game.

Nebraska went 13-8-1 in 2003 and finished with a No. 23 national ranking in the NSCAA/adidas top 25, while North Carolina finished a perfect 27-0-0 and captured the national title.

In the first game of the invitational, Creighton will face California at 5 p.m. on Friday. California and North Carolina will play at 11 a.m. on Sunday before NU and Creighton conclude the tournament with a 7 p.m. tilt.

When Nebraska faces Creighton on Sunday, the Huskers will be looking for only their second win in the all-time series. NU dropped its first three decisions to the Bluejays but has not lost to Creighton since 1995, tying CU 1-1 in 2002 and winning 2-0 in 2000.

The Huskers may have a slight advantage this weekend, having already played two exhibition games.

Nebraska defeated Louisville 4-0 on Aug. 13 and defeated a collection of former Huskers 2-0, in the program’s inaugural Alumni Game.

NU Wins Pair of Games
The Nebraska soccer team posted a pair of victories in the exhibition season, opening play with a 4-0 win at Louisville on Aug. 13.

Senior Brooke Bredenberg put NU up 1-0 in the 10th minute when she was able to control a ball in the box and find the back of the net. In her first game as a Husker, junior Sasha Andrews scored off a corner kick by sophomore Brittany Timko to extend the Nebraska lead to 2-0 just 17:45 into the game.
NU added one more goal in the first half when freshman Meghan Hungerford turned an Abby Penas pass into a breakaway goal after she beat Louisville’s goalkeeper Meredith Miller. The goal came with just more than nine minutes left in the half and capped a superb opening 45 minutes.
Nebraska continued its aggressive play in the second half, posting nine shots, while limiting the Cardinals to only two. Timko added a goal at 69:46 to go along with her assist and finish with three points on the night.

Nebraska followed that victory with a 2-0 win over a collection of talented former Huskers.

Junior Kari Hogan scored the Huskers’ first goal at 47:30, just over 12 minutes into the second 35-minute half. Sophomore Brittany Timko added her second goal of the exhibition season 11 minutes later.

Hogan and Timko each beat ex-Husker goalie Becky Hornbacher, who is now the head coach at Big 12 rival Iowa State. Hogan lofted a shot over the head of Hornbacher that found the back of the net on the opposite post. Timko scored minutes later on a similar play.

Timko beat Hornbacher to a ball outside the box, dribbled around her and lofted a shot into the top of the net on the opposite post. Both goals were unassisted.

For the game, NU outshot the alumni team 14-9 and recorded five cornerkicks to the alumni’s one. In goal, Katie Wright recorded two saves. Playing every minute in goal in the Huskers’ two exhibition games, Wright posted two shutouts.

On the Air
Nebraska’s home games, beginning with Friday’s 7 p.m. contest against North Carolina, will be carried by KRNU 90.3 and will be available on Huskers.com. Sunday’s 7 p.m. game with Creighton will also be available on Huskers.com.

Starting StrongDespite the challenge of opening the season against the defending national champions, Nebraska will look to start the season strong after starting the 2003 season 2-0.

Last season, NU defefated DePaul 1-0 to open the season and followed with a 3-0 victory over Iowa to cap a good opening weekend. NU has not lost a season opener since 1998. In the 10 year existence of Nebraska soccer, the Huskers own a 6-3-1 record in season openers.

The one tie came on Aug. 30, 2002 when the Tar Heels made their only visit to Lincoln and tied Nebraska 1-1 before a school-record crowd of 4,830.

Up Next
Nebraska will remain home next weekend, hosting a pair of NCAA Tournament teams. NU will face Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3 before hosting Purdue on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.

Eastern Illinois went 11-6-5 in 2003 and was unbeaten in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Panthers advanced to the NCAA Tournament, but fell to Missouri, 1-0, in the first round.

Purdue had an excellent 2003 season. The Boilermakers finished the season 14-6-3 and 6-2-2 in the Big Ten. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated DePaul and Michigan before losing to eventual champion North Carolina.

Head Coach John Walker
Nebraska Head Coach John Walker is in his 11th year as coach of the Huskers. Since starting the program in 1994, Walker has posted an impressive 172-43-8 record.

His .789 winning percentage is third among all Division I active coaches and his 172 victories rank 26th among active coaches.

Walker’s teams have won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament for eight consecutive seasons and have finished the season in the NSCAA/adidas top 25 poll in each of the last eight seasons.

Under Walker, the Huskers have become a perennial power. He has led the team to three Big 12 regular-season titles and five Big 12 Tournament titles since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996, including a sweep of both titles in 1999 and 2000.

Preseason Poll
Although the 2004 NSCAA/adidas top 25 poll has not yet been released, Nebraska finds itself ranked 25th in the Soccer America preseason top 25. North Carolina, the Huskers’ season-opening opponent, was the choice to repeat as national champions.

NU Welcomes Seven
The Nebraska soccer team has seven players this season. Junior Sasha Andrews is the lone transfer of the group, joining freshmen Meghan Hungerford, Brigid Kenny, Shaylynn Milbourn, Sari Raber, Jetta Sadusky and Kaile Schroff.

Andrews and Raber started both of Nebraska’s exhibition games and should see significant minutes in 2004. Hungerford, Kenny, Sadusky and Schroff also saw time in the exhibition season, with Hungerford scoring a goal against Louisville.

With only 12 returning players, this year’s freshman class has an excellent chance to see a significant amount of playing time. The 2004 recuriting class was tabbed as the sixth-best in the nation according to Soccer America.

2004 Season Outlook
The Nebraska soccer team will have a youthful look in 2004 with 12 combined freshmen and sophomores and only two seniors on the 20-woman roster.

The young talent has Coach John Walker cautiously optimistic about the 2004 season.

"I think our expectations are that we intend to continue to be a nationally prominent program and continue to have success in the Big 12 Conference," Walker said.

However inexperienced the players may be, the talent is certainly present.

The 2003 recruiting class was ranked No. 8 nationally and this year’s incoming class was tabbed the sixth-best group of newcomers in the nation by Soccer America.

The influx of talented young players combined with the mix of experienced, versatile upperclassmen could help the Huskers in their goal to reach the NCAA Tournament for the ninth consecutive season.

Continuing the streak will not be easy. Despite the potential, the 2004 Huskers will be without two of the top defenders and the top three scorers from last year’s team.

Although NU is missing some of its top players, the expectations will remain at a high level this season, Walker said.

"We took some hits personnel-wise that were unplanned, which will make this season more of a challenge," Walker said. "But at the same time, it’s a situation where other players have to do more.

"We still think we have the makings of a good team. We still expect to compete at the same level and play with the same physical presence and effort that we’ve played with in the past, even if we’re a little bit undermanned."

Defensively, junior transfer Sasha Andrews will help add stability to a strong backfield for the Huskers.

Andrews, a member of the Canadian National Team, will make an immediate impact on the team, providing a solid anchor along with senior Katie Bunkers and junior Aly Scace.

Sophomore forward Brittany Timko could be a key part of the Huskers’ offensive attack after missing most of the 2003 season because of injuries and her commitments to the Canadian National Team.

Timko scored four goals and notched one assist in only eight starts last season. The Huskers will look for her to step up and play a crucial role in the offensive attack in her first full season.

Offensively, Nebraska may experience the most growing pains. Despite the added presence of Timko, NU will be without its three leading scorers from a year ago, a trio that accounted for almost 44 percent of Nebraska’s total points in 2003.

Goalkeeper
Sophomore Katie Wright is expected to see the majority of time in goal for the Huskers. Wright split time in 2003 with senior Brooke Bredenberg, who has moved to the midfield position this season. Also competing for time in the net will be freshman Shaylynn Milbourn.

As a freshman last season, Wright gained valuable experience that could help her succeed in 2004. She started five games, including both of Nebraska’s NCAA Tournament games, logging a total of more than 473 minutes in goal. The Mission Viejo, Calif., native notched 1.5 shutouts and posted a 2-2 record. She was credited with 35 saves and posted a 2.28 goals-against average.

"Katie is a good shot stopper and has good size," Walker said. "It’s really just a matter of her getting more experience, which will help her communication skills improve. She had a good, spring playing every minute of every game, and we need her to have a good fall."

As a freshman, Milbourn will most likely see limited action in goal. A talented athlete with great potential, she needs to gain a better understanding of the position in her first season, according to Walker.

Although Bredenberg has moved to midfield, the possibility exists that she may play some goalkeeper in 2004. Last year, she started 17 games in net, saving 77 shots and holding opponents to an average of 1.39 goals per game. She finished with 2.5 shutouts and an 11-6-1 record.

Defenders
With the youth of the Husker offense, NU’s defenders will play a pivotal role in 2004. Juniors Katie Bunkers, Sasha Andrews and Aly Scace will anchor the defense.

Bunkers started 18 games last season after being limited early in the year because of a knee injury. Once healthy, the Sioux Falls, S.D., native played every minute of the Huskers’ final 15 games and helped NU post a 1.60 goals-against average.

"Katie’s a very explosive player," Walker said. "She’s a phenomenal athlete and excellent in the air. She is a good individual defender and has gotten a much better understanding of team defending. We expect her to be someone who is the heart of our organized defense."

Although she has yet to step onto the field as a Husker, Andrews could be a leader for Nebraska in 2004.

Her international experience as a member of the Canadian National Team along with her starting experience at SMU will allow Andrews to make an immediate impact at Nebraska.

"Sasha is very strong in the air and has really improved her individual defending," Walker said. "She worked really hard in the spring and improved her passing. She is someone who, hopefully, should have a huge fall for us."

Scace will also play a major role in the Huskers’ defense. She started all 22 games in 2003, logging the most minutes of any returning player. After converting from attacker to defender, Scace could add an offensive threat for the Huskers from the back.

Sophomore Tanya Dennis played in only two games last season, but was the starting right back for the Canadian Under-19 National Team in 2003. Her international experience should help her adjust to the Division I level.

Freshman Sari Raber may also see time at defender. Expected to vie for playing time in her first season, Raber will primarily play forward, although she did play every minute of every game as a defender for the Canadian Under-19 National Team.

Midfielders
Senior Lindsey Ingram and junior Vern Fitzgerald will return as starters in 2004. Ingram, who started 22 games, and Fitzgerald, who made 20 starts, are the only returning midfielders, although Ingram was a defender for most of the 2003 season. Jessie Bruch, who led the team with 19 points last season, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the spring campaign and is expected to miss the 2004 season.

In Bruch’s absence, Ingram and Fitzgerald will be relied upon heavily. Ingram finished with three goals and four assists in 2003, while Fitzgerald totaled three goals and one assist.

"Lindsey is a very skillful player and reads the game well," Walker said. "She has really improved her defending ability and we look for her to show some good leadership qualities this season.

"Vern has improved her strength, her fitness level and her overall athletic ability," Walker said. She’s done pretty well over her first two seasons and we hope that she has her best year yet."

Freshman Kaile Schroff is also listed as a midfielder, but will need time to adjust to the Division I level, Walker said.

A slew of forwards may also be called back to the midfield position this season. Junior Kari Hogan, sophomore Brittany Timko and and freshmen Jetta Sadusky and Meghan Hungerford may see time at midfielder.

Forwards
Looking for offense in 2004, NU has 11 forwards on its roster, led by Hogan, Timko and junior Nikki Baker.

Hogan’s 13 points on two goals and nine assists in 2003 leads NU’s contingent of active returning players. She started all 22 games last fall and the Huskers will look for even more out of the junior in 2004.

"Kari is an excellent dribbler and a terrific one-on-one player," Walker said. "She is a very creative and skillful player and will be a real integral player in our attack."

Baker started 15 games last season and finished with 11 points. She scored five goals a year ago to lead NU’s returning players, while adding one assist.

Baker was limited by injury last season after scoring nine goals and totaling 20 points as a freshman. A great finisher, Walker expects Baker to perform at a higher level than a year ago and play an important role in the Huskers’ success.

"Nikki looks a lot closer to how she looked as a freshman," Walker said. "She’s an explosive player who has scored big goals and has worked a lot on the finishing part of her game. She will be a key producer in any success we have this season."

Timko brings a wealth of experience and talent to this year’s team, despite seeing action in only 11 games in 2003. After scoring four goals and netting one assist last season, Timko’s numbers could make a jump in 2004 with more playing time and more chances.

Sophomores Abby Penas and Tanya Dennis are the only other returning forwards.

Despite playing in only two games, Dennis gained valuable experience on the international level by playing for the Canadian National Team in the World Cup. After suffering from a concussion last season, Dennis is expected to be a key contributor in 2004, according to Walker.

Bredenberg started 17 games in goal last season and made three appearances as a midfielder. In 2004, she makes the shift to forward. A high-energy player, Walker expects her athletic ability to help make the change and contribute to the team.

Three freshmen will also compete for time at forward. Brigid Kenny, Jetta Sadusky and Sari Raber will try to get into the rotation.

Directions to the Abbott Sports Complex
The Ethel S. Abbott Sports Complex is located 1-1/2 miles north of Cornhusker Highway on 70th Street and is on the northeast edge of the city of Lincoln.

To reach it from the Lincoln Municipal Airport, turn right on Northwest 12th Street as you drive out of the airport. Northwest 12th Street becomes Cornhusker Highway. Follow Cornhusker Highway east until 70th Street. Make a left turn onto 70th Street and follow it 1 1/2 miles north.

From Omaha's Eppley Airfield, follow the signs to downtown Omaha and I-480 south. Take I-480 west to I-80, then take I-80 west to Lincoln. Take the 56th Street exit and follow south 1/4 mile, make a left turn onto Arbor Street, follow 1-1/4 miles to 70th Street, then make a right-hand turn onto 70th Street. The Abbott Sports Complex is 1/4 mile ahead on the left.