NU Opens Four-Game Road Trip This Weekend

The Nebraska soccer team (7-3-1, 2-0-1 Big 12) takes a four match unbeaten streak to Texas this weekend for a pair of road games against Baylor and Texas A&M. The games are the first in two consecutive weekends of road trips, as the Huskers head to Oral Roberts and Texas the following weekend.

NU is 3-0-1 in its last four games, including a pair of shutouts last weekend that resulted in one win and the program's first scoreless tie since 1999. Against Kansas on Friday, both offenses had several quality scoring chances but each team's defense held. In net for Nebraska, freshman Jamie Klages picked up her second shutout of the season, playing all 110 minutes and recording a career-high nine saves.

Klages posted another shutout for the Huskers on Sunday against Missouri, recording five saves. A native of Coronado, Calif., Klages has now pushed her scoreless minutes streak to 253:36. She has started the last four games in goal and has allowed only one goal in three career Big 12 starts, a streak stretching eight periods (six halves, two overtimes).

The Husker offense came alive against Missouri scoring three goals with two from freshman Aysha Jamani. Jamani recorded her second career multi-goal game by finishing a pair of chances in the first half. Jamani's first goal came just 3:40 into the game. In a great individual effort, Jamani received the ball after precision passing from the NU midfield and beat two defenders before launching a kick into the top of the net from 25 yards out.

In the 33rd minute, Jamani added a second goal to put the Huskers in command. Fellow freshman Selenia Iacchelli added the third goal with a perfect finish off a corner kick from junior Brittany Timko.

The win over MU marked the first time this season Timko has not recorded either the game-winning goal or assist. Timko did notch an assist and ranks second in the nation with an assists-per-game average of 1.00 (11 assists, 11 games).

This weekend's matches are key to the Huskers' chances to capture the Big 12 title. NU sits in second place with a 2-0-1 record and seven points, two points behind league-leading Oklahoma (3-0-0). Along with the Sooners, Nebraska is the only other unbeaten team in the conference.

Baylor is 0-3 in league play, but has defeated Nebraska in each of the last two seasons, while Texas A&M is 2-1-0, but was the preseason pick to win the Big 12 and boasts the highest ranking of any school in the conference.

Live stats for both matches will be available on Huskers.com.

Scouting Baylor (2-8-1, 0-3-0 Big 12)
Baylor is just 2-8-1 overall and 0-3-0 in the Big 12 this season but brings a two-game winning streak over Nebraska into Friday's match. The Lady Bears and Huskers share three common opponents - Minnesota, Kansas and Missouri. BU posted an 0-2-1 record against those schools, while NU went 2-0-1.

Baylor is led offensively by Tiffany Boshers who ranks third in the Big 12 in shots and shots per game. Boshers, along with Anna Schuch and Brittani Zonker have each scored three goals and added two assists.

In net, Ashley Holder boasts a 1.93 goals-against average, allowing 21 goals in 11 games and recording one shutout and a Big 12-best 82 saves.

Last Time We Met
Baylor overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit last season in Lincoln to become only the second team in the 11-year history of the program to beat the Huskers after trailing at the half. The Lady Bears scored three second-half goals to post a 4-3 come-from-behind victory.

Brittany Timko gave NU a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals in the first 28 minutes, but Anna Schuch found the back of the net in the 43rd minute to close the gap to one goal at intermission.

In the second half, Tiffany Boshers scored back-to-back goals in the 52nd and 57th minute to give the Lady Bears a 3-2 lead. A Husker goal from Brooke Bredenberg 4:05 later tied the game, but Gentry Sharp knocked in the game winner at 79:45.

NU outshot Baylor, 26-16, including an 11-8 advantage in shots on goal, but Ashley Holder made eight saves in net for BU, while Katie Wright made three saves for NU.

Nebraska leads the all-time series, 10-3-0, including a 3-2 mark in Waco, but Baylor has won the last two meetings dating back to 2003.

Scouting Texas A&M (8-2-1, 2-1-0 Big 12)
Texas A&M is 8-2-1 on the season and 2-1-0 in the Big 12 after losing to Texas on Sunday. The Aggies and Huskers have each faced Kansas and Missouri once. While NU went 1-0-1 in those two games, A&M beat each squad by a score of 3-2.

The Aggies boast a potent offense and solid goalkeeping. Melissa Garey is tied for the Big 12 lead with 11 goals, while Ashlee Pistorius ranks third with seven goals. Garey (24 points) and Pistorius (18) also rank two-three in the league in points.

In net, Kati Jo Spisak ranks fourth in the conference with a 0.72 goals-against average. Spisak has posted five shutouts to rank second in the Big 12.

Last Time We Met
Texas A&M became the first team ever to defeat Nebraska when trailing at the half when the Aggies scored two second-half goals to post a 2-1 come-from-behind victory to hand the Huskers their first loss in the Big 12 Conference last season.

Sasha Andrews scored off a corner kick from Brittany Timko in the 22nd minute and the game remained 1-0 at half. Ashlee Pistorius tied the game at 52:50, before Carrie Berend picked up the game-winning goal in the 81st minute.

In a tremendously even game, A&M outshot Nebraska, 15-13, and posted a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal, while each team won seven corner kicks and made four saves.

Klages Improves Scoreless Minutes Streak
Freshman Jamie Klages is 3-2-1 this season, but has not allowed more than one goal in any of her six starts. Her double-overtime shutout against Kansas on Friday was her second of the season and lowered her goals-against average to 0.64. Klages did not allow a goal in the second half at Colorado on Sept. 23 and combined with her 110-minute shutout against the Jayhawks, Klages currently has a scoreless minutes streak of 263:56.

Klages has allowed only one goal in her first thre Big 12 games (totaling 290 minutes) for an impressive goals-against average of 0.31.

Multi-Talented
Freshman Selenia Iacchelli recorded a career-high three points against Missouri on Sunday, scoring one goal and assisting on another. The assist was the first of her career. Iacchelli, who is tied for second on the team with three goals, has recorded all of her goals, assists and points in the Huskers' last six games after being held without a point through the first five games.

Twice the Fun
Freshman Aysha Jamani doubled her pleasure with two first-half goals against Missouri on Sunday. Her multi-goal effort was the second of her career and the third by a Husker this season. Jamani's first goal proved to be the game winner. She now has two game-winning goals this season and is tied with senior Sasha Andrews for the team lead. Jamani leads the team with six goals.

When Leading at the Half...
When Nebraska overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit at Colorado on Sept. 23 to post a 2-1 victory, it marked the first time this season the Huskers have won when trailing at the half. NU is 1-2 this season when trailing at the half and is 7-26-0 all-time when trailing at the half.

In contrast, the Huskers are 6-0 this season and a remarkable 153-2-2 all-time when leading at the half. Interestingly, NU's two losses when leading at the half came last season to Baylor and Texas A&M, the Huskers' weekend opponents.

Unbeaten Streak
Nebraska is unbeaten in its last four games, including its first three Big 12 games, posting a 3-0-1 record during that stretch. NU's last loss came at Purdue on Sept. 16. Since the loss to the Boilermakers, NU has outscored its opponents, 7-2 and recorded two shutouts after posting only one in the first seven games.

The Huskers' streak has also put them in great early position to contend for the Big 12 title. Nebraska and Oklahoma are the only two league schools that remain unbeaten in conference action. The Huskers currently sit in second place in the conference standings, two points behind the league-leading Sooners.

There's No Place Like Home
After its dominating 3-0 win over Missouri on Sunday, the Huskers are 6-1-1 this season (and all-time) at the Nebraska Soccer Field. In contrast, the Huskers are 1-2 away from Lincoln, losing a pair of tough one-goal decisions at Big Ten schools Illinois and Purdue before winning at Colorado on Sept. 23 for their first road win of the season.

Last season, Nebraska was 5-2-0 away from Lincoln and just 7-6 at home.

More Injuries
Sophomore Jessie Bruch, fresh off a two-goal performance at Colorado, suffered an ankle injury on practice at Wednesday and is day-to-day. Bruch did not suit up against Kansas on Friday and was in uniform on Sunday against Missouri but did not play. Freshman Lindsay Poehling also suffered an injury in the win over Colorado on Sept. 23 and is out for the season. Freshman Ali Lokanc, sophomores Brigid Kenny and Sari Raber and senior Aly Scace are also out for the season with injuries.

Can't Tie Me Down
The Nebraska soccer team owned the longest tieless streak in the Big 12 Conference before playing to a scoreless tie with Kansas on Friday. Prior to that match, NU's last tie came 49 games ago on Sept. 12, 2003 vs. Michigan. The Huskers' last scoreless tie was on Sept. 25, 1999 at Clemson and the last tie in Big 12 play came on Sept. 29, 2002 at Kansas (1-1).

Bruch Breaks Through
Sophomore Jessie Bruch enjoyed a career day at Colorado on Sept. 23 and the Huskers used her superb effort to earn a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Buffaloes.

After playing the first eight games without recording a point, Bruch scored a pair of goals off set plays against CU. In addition to recording her first goal, her performance marked the first multi-goal game of her career.

Although it took Bruch nine games to record a point, it was only a matter of time until she found the back of the net. A native of St. Louis, Mo., Bruch was a 2003 Big 12 All-Newcomer Team selection after leading the Huskers with nine goals and 19 points as a freshman.

Bruch missed the entire 2004 season while recovering from offseason surgery and suffered an ankle injury in practice last week. Bruch did not play against Kansas and Missouri, but could see action this weekend.

No Assistance Needed
Junior Brittany Timko recorded a school-record six game-winning assists last season and she has picked up right where she left off. Timko has produced the game-winning assist in five of the Huskers' seven victories this season, including Nebraska's 2-1 win at Colorado last Friday. Her career total now stands at 11 and ranks second on the NU career chart, just two shy of Meghan Anderson's school record.

In the only Husker victory that she did not record a game-winning assist, Timko provided the game-winning goal in Nebraska's 2-1 come-from-behind victory over UC Irvine on Sept. 18.

Timko Ranks Highly in Assists
Junior Brittany Timko has recorded 11 assists in 11 games this season. When the NCAA statistical rankings were released on Tuesday, Timko ranked third in the nation with 11 assists and second with an assists-per-game average of 1.00.

Streak Buster
Nebraska's 2-1 win over Colorado on Sept. 23 not only marked the Huskers' sixth win of the season and first in Big 12 Conference play, but also marked the end of four streaks and the beginning of another.

The victory ended NU's two-game losing streak to Colorado and also marked the first Nebraska win in Boulder since 1999.

In addition, the victory was the first road win of the season for NU, which had been 0-2-0 on the road prior to the trip. The win was also the first victory of the season when the Huskers trailed at halftime.

While those streaks ended, another one began. The win was the Huskers' second in a row, marking the first time Nebraska has posted back-to-back victories since NU won its opening two games.

Last season, the opening of the Big 12 season was the beginning of a great stretch for NU, as the Huskers began league play 4-0 in the midst of a season-long seven-game winning streak.

Coming Back
The Huskers have proven they have the ability to come back and should never be counted out of a match. In four of its last five wins, NU was down by a goal at some point in the game.

In the San Diego State game on Sept. 6, Nebraska responded after the Aztecs erased a 1-0 halftime deficit and took a 2-1 lead by scoring a pair of goal with less than 10 minutes remaining to earn a regulation victory. The Huskers applied relentless pressure before junior Brittany Timko scored the equalizer at 82:57 and senior Sasha Andrews added the game winner at 84:53.

Nebraska again fell behind 1-0 to Rice on Sept. 11, but rallied for three unanswered goals to cruise to a 3-1 victory. After an Owl goal in the 23rd minute, it took just over 20 minutes for the Huskers to take the lead after a pair of goals from Andrews. Freshman Selenia Iacchelli added the first goal of her career to cap the comeback.

On Sept. 18 against UC Irvine, the Anteaters jumped out to a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the game, but goals from Iacchelli and Timko lifted the Huskers to victory.

At Colorado on Sept. 23, NU trailed 1-0 at halftime before rallying behind two goals from sophomore Jessie Bruch to post a 2-1 victory. Although the Huskers have shown the ability to come back, the win over CU marked Nebraska's first victory when trailing at the half.

Andrews' Career Week
Senior defender Sasha Andrews enjoyed a career week during the Huskers' three-game schedule Sept. 6-11. In addition to being an anchor on the NU backline that saw two freshmen start due to injuries, Andrews got involved in the offense by scoring three goals. Andrews provided the game-winning goal in the 85th minute against San Diego State when she headed in a goal off a corner kick from junior Brittany Timko and a pass from fellow senior Nikki Baker.

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Andrews followed that performance with the first multi-goal game of her career against Rice on Sept. 11. She found the back of the net twice off Timko free kicks to finish the week with three goals. Her three goals were not only the first of the season for Andrews, but also matched her entire 2004 total. Both of her goals were also game-winning goals.

For her efforts, Andrews was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, the first such honor of her career on Sept. 13.

Texas Tech Game Rescheduled
Nebraska's game at Texas Tech, which was originally scheduled to be played Sunday, Sept. 25, has been rescheduled for Sunday, Oct. 30 in Lubbock.

The game was postponed after NU's travel plans were altered because of Hurricane Rita's affect on the Gulf Coast.

A kickoff time has not yet been determined.

On the Defensive
Senior Nikki Baker, who is one of the top goal scorers in school history, has been moved back to defense to fill in on the backline that has seen three starters lost for the season due to injury.

NU's Sept. 18 game with UC Irvine marked the first start at the defender position of Baker's career. Although she will play back more, Baker still figures to be a contributor to the Huskers' offensive attack.

NU is 3-0-1 with two shutouts, allowing just two goals in Baker's four games as a starter on the backline.

Two is Better Than One
Through its first 11 games of the season, Nebraska has enjoyed the benefits of a two-goalkeeper system, although freshman Jamie Klages has emerged lately, starting the last four games.

Klages has earned seven starts in net, including four straight, while Wright has made four starts. Wright boasts a 3-1-0 record, while Klages is 4-2-1. Klages has recorded the only three shutouts of the season and her goals-against average of 0.58 is lower than Wright's 1.50 GAA.

While there is no set rotation as to who will start, both keepers have proven their ability and the Huskers plan to utilize both players to get the best results for the team.

Trio of Firsts
The freshman trio of Lauren Isenhower, Selenia Iacchelli and Aysha Jamani each recorded career firsts in the Huskers' 3-1 win over Rice on Sept. 11. Isenhower earned the first start of her career against the Owls, while Iacchelli and Jamani teamed up to produce NU's third and final goal. After a good run, Jamani sent a perfect cross into the box that found Iacchelli, who had a perfect finish to find the back of the net. That goal marked the first of Iacchelli's career and also marked the first assist of Jamani's career.

Double Spells Trouble
Statistically speaking, Nebraska has been nearly twice as good as its opponents this season. The Huskers have more than doubled their opponents in goals (21-to-10) and corner kicks (82-to-38).

NU has also nearly doubled the opponents' shots on goal (89-to-54). Nebraska has also enjoyed a large advantage in shots (174-to-121).

In addition, the Huskers have also had to make only 44 saves, while opponent's have been forced to make 68 stops.

Corner Kickin'
Nebraska, which has historically enjoyed a tremendous advantage in corner kicks taken, is again out-cornering its opponents by a large margin.

NU has won 82 corner kicks, while limiting its opponents to 38, including an 10-1 advantage over Missouri on Sunday. Even more impressive is the second-half breakdown of corner kicks. In the final 45 minutes, the Huskers have won 42 corner kicks, while limiting their opponents to just 12 through 11 games.

Timko Moving Up Charts
In addition to her ascent on the NU game-winning assist chart, junior Brittany Timko is moving up several other school record charts.

With one assist against Missouri on Sunday, Timko now has 25 for her career. One of only 11 players in school history to record 20 career assists, Timko is now tied for seventh place on the NU career chart.

Her two-assist game against Colorado on Sept. 23 was also the fifth multi-assist game of her career, moving her up to fifth in school history.

Timko, whose assault on the record books can be tracked on page 11 of this release, currently ranks in the career top 10 in six categories.

Timko is also nearing two career milestones. She needs just one point to reach 70 career points. The Coquitlam, British Columbia native also needs just three goals to become only the fifth player in school history to record both 25 goals and 25 assists in a career.

Nearing 70
Senior Nikki Baker has seven points this season and now has 68 points in her career.

With two more points, Baker will become only the 10th player in school history to record 70 or more points in a career.

A native of Bixby, Okla., Baker ranks 10th in school history with 68 career points.

Junior teammate Brittany Timko has 69 points and is nearing 70 for her career.

Wright Reaches Milestone
Junior goalkeeper Katie Wright, who finished the 2004 season with 108 saves - the third-highest total in school history - recorded two saves against Rice on Sept. 11 to give her 151 saves in her career.

She ranks third in school history in career saves and is 55 saves away from moving up to second place.

While the Mission Viejo, Calif., native reached one milestone, she is approaching another. Wright has earned 19 victories in her career. With her next win, Wright would become only the fourth goalkeeper in Nebraska history to win 20 games in a career.

Freshman Contributions
Even with an experienced team returning nine starters from last year's squad and the return of sophomore Jessie Bruch, the Huskers have received plenty of support from their talented freshman class.

In three of Nebraska's seven wins, the game-winning goal came off the foot of a freshman. Against Minnesota in the season opener, Lauren Isenhower notched her first career goal off an assist from junior Brittany Timko and against UAB two days later, Aysha Jamani's first of two goals proved to be the game winner in the Huskers' 4-0 win.

Ten freshmen made their collegiate debuts in the Huskers' opening weekend wins, including Selenia Iacchelli who has started all three contests this season. In addition to logging minutes, the freshmen have combined to contribute four goals and four assists.

To date, six freshmen have earned a start, including Kellie Jensen who earned the first start of her career in the midfield against Kansas on Friday.

In net, Jamie Klages opened her career with a shutout against UAB and stretched her scoreless minutes streak to 150:37 before surrendering her first goal in the Huskers' 1-0 loss at Illinois on Sept. 2.

Assistance Needed
Senior Nikki Baker notched her second and third assists of the season the weekend of Sept. 9. With three assists just six games into the season, Baker established a new single-season career high, eclipsing her previous best of two, set in her freshman season of 2002 and matched last year.

Extra Credit
Senior Sasha Andrews and junior Brittany Timko took advantage of the only open Sunday date by joining the Canadian World Cup team in a friendly match with Germany in Edmonton, Alberta on Sept. 4.

Against the 2003 World Cup Champion Germans, both players contributed in a hard-fought 4-3 loss. The Canadians scored their third goal of the game off a Timko corner kick in the 86th minute.

Scoreless Debut
Freshman Jamie Klages made a sparkling collegiate debut in net, recording two saves en route to posting a shutout against UAB on Aug. 28. Klages became only the fourth goalkeeper in school history - and the first since Brooke Bredenberg in 2003 - to record a shutout in her debut.

Klages followed that performance by recording three saves and allowing only one goal against Illinois on Sept. 2. Klages did not allow a goal in her first three halves and had a scoreless minute streak to open her career of 150:37.

Huskers on TV
The University of Nebraska, in association with NET Sports and CSTV, announced that the Nebraska soccer team’s home contests with Missouri last Sunday and with Oklahoma on Friday, Oct. 21 will be carried live in Nebraska on NET2/NET-HD and will also be carried nationally by CSTV.

The televised games mark the only two regular-season games that CSTV will televise live on a national basis.

Nearing 200
Head Coach John Walker, the only coach in the history of the Nebraska Soccer program, needs just eight victories to reach 200 career wins and 200 victories at Nebraska. Walker, who ranks 22nd among active coaches in career victories, has a career record of 193-55-8 in 12 years at the helm of the Huskers. Walker has averaged nearly 17 wins a season at NU and at that pace would reach the 200-win plateau this season.

New Faces on the Sideline
The new on-campus home of the Huskers is not the only dramatic change from the 2004 season. For the first time in 10 years, a new face will be seen alongside NU coaches John Walker and Marty Everding, each of whom has been a part of the program since its inception in 1994. Ann Cook joins the staff for her first season in 2005, replacing Megan Skinner. Cook's addition to the staff represents the first change to the staff in 10 years.

Another new face to the sideline this season is still a familiar face to Husker fans. Kari Hogan, a senior this season, has decided to serve as the undergraduate assistant coach instead of playing her final season. Rounding out the coaching staff is former Husker, Christine Latham, who is in her second year as a volunteer assistant coach. She served the same role last season while continuing her undergraduate studies and returns this season after earning her degree in May of 2005.

The Nebraska Soccer Field
The Huskers have a chance to make school history on the field in 2005, but their field itself has already made program history. For the first time in the 12-year history of Nebraska soccer, the Huskers are playing their home games on campus.

The Nebraska Soccer Field provides one of the most convenient settings in the nation. Nestled between the home of fellow fall sports Husker football and volleyball, the location is also near the two full-size indoor practice facilities NU enjoys.

The Championship Indoor Center not only includes a second year-round practice facility, but is also home to new soccer offices, including Coach Walker's office, which has a balcony overlooking the field.

As part of the Championship Drive project, scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2006, the soccer team will also enjoy a large, modern locker room, in addition to new strength and conditioning and athletic medicine facilities.

The Huskers hope to be as successful on campus as they were off. Nebraska owned a career home record of 107-17-4 (.852) in its two previous off-campus homes, including a 101-16-4 (.835) mark at the Abbott Sports Complex. The Huskers are 6-1-1 at their new home after suffering their only loss Sept. 9 against Colorado College.

Nebraska Soccer Field Firsts
In the first regular-season home game on campus in program history, senior Nikki Baker scored the first goal in the history of the Nebraska Soccer Field. Juniors Abby Penas and Tanya Dennis added the first assists, while freshman Aysha Jamani notched the first multi-goal game at the Nebraska Soccer Field. Fellow freshman Jamie Klages also recorded the first shutout at the new home in the second game of the season against UAB.

The first tie in field history came on Friday as the Huskers' battled Kansas to a 0-0 tie after two overtime periods.

Timko on Watch List
Junior Brittany Timko, the 2004 Big 12 Soccer Player of the Year and a third-team NSCAA All-American, was one of 25 players named to the Hermann Award preseason watch list announced.

The Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy honors the top male and female Division I college soccer players.

Timko enjoyed a stellar sophomore season in which she was named the Big 12 Conference and National Player of the Week three times. In 19 games, the Coquitlam, British Columbia native scored 15 goals and added 13 assists to total 43 points. Timko also recorded six game-winning assists to break the school record.

A list of 15 semifinalists for the award will be announced in early November, with the three finalists announced in December. The trio will be invited to St. Louis for a news conference and dinner held at the Missouri Athletic Club on Jan. 6, 2006, where the winner of the award will be revealed.

Timko was a semifinalist for the award in 2004.