Huskers Open Regular Season Against Northwestern

Lincoln - Nebraska kicks off its 14th season under head coach John Walker against Northwestern on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

The Huskers take to the pitch once again behind experienced leadership. Jessie Bruch will look to cap her Husker career with a stellar senior season, while juniors Aysha Jamani and Selenia Iacchelli will look to step into leadership roles on and off the field.

Nebraska has its fair share of youth this season as 14 freshmen join the squad. Jessica Mills graduated high school a year early to compete for the Huskers' starting goalkeeper position. Brittany Goosen and Anna White will attempt to fill the offensive hole left by the graduated Brittany Timko, the three-time Big 12 Player of the Year.

Nebraska concluded its preseason with a 2-0 loss to the Louisville Cardinals last Saturday. The exhibition game raises money for a memorial scholarship fund set up to remember former Husker captain Jenna Cooper who was killed before the 2004 season.

The Huskers are 7-4-2 in home-opening and season-opening games. Nebraska has opened every season at home except the 2000 season when it opened the season with a 4-0 win over Minnesota. The Huskers returned home to beat Arkansas-Little Rock.
   
Scouting Northwestern (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big 10)
After finishing 8-10-2 in the 2006 season, the Northwestern Wildcasts return nine starters for this season's campaign. The Wildcats start their second season under Stephanie Erickson, a Northwestern alum.

At forward, the Wildcats return several weapons from a unit that finished third in the Big Ten in goals last season. Senior Kelsey Hans scored seven goals in 2006 and ranks second on NU’s all-time career list behind Coach Erickson with 28. Junior Jenny Dunn, who led Northwestern in assists with five, will help anchor the unit with sophomore Alicia Herczeg who enjoyed a solid freshman campaign with three goals.

In the midfield, the Wildcats will be lead by senior Shannon Schneeman, junior Jeanette Lorme and sophomore Zendzi Neal. Schneeman returned to the field in 2006 after missing all of 2005 due to injury and notched 14 points with five goals. Lorme’s two goals in 2006 were both game-winners.

On defense, the Wildcats return 2006 Big Ten All-Freshman selection Leigh Jakes. Junior Laura Janowitsch, who set a career high with four assists in 2006 and senior Kelly Sitkowski will join her in the back.

Between the pipes, NU returns senior Lauren Johnston. Johnston recorded four shutouts in Big Ten play and started all 20 games for the ?Cats last year.

On top of all of the players returning, Northwestern welcomes a 10-player freshman class for 2007.

Nebraska Remembers Jenna Cooper
The Nebraska women’s soccer team paid tribute to former Husker captain Jenna Cooper by playing an exhibition match against the University of Louisville in Cooper’s hometown last Saturday afternoon to raise money for Nebraska’s Jenna Cooper Memorial Scholarship Fund.

On the field, a youthful Husker team suffered a 2-0 loss to the Cardinals, tying the annual exhibition series with Louisville at two games apiece. Eight NU freshmen saw their first playing time for the Huskers, including three newcomers who earned starting positions in forward Brittany Goosen, midfielder Anna White and goalkeeper Jessica Mills.

Louisville controlled much of the game, outshooting the Huskers 16-13, including 10-4 in the first half. The Cardinals recorded nine shots on goal to Nebraska’s five.

The Cardinals scored early in the contest on Kelsey Hunyadi’s goal in the eighth minute. Hunyadi broke through Nebraska’s defense and beat Mills to the left. Louisville continued to apply pressure with 10 total shots and four corner kicks in the opening half.

Another Louisville goal early in the second half gave the Cardinals more cushion. Monique Gjini put the ball past Mills from 30 yards out. The Huskers continued to battle and gained momentum as the game progressed, outshooting the Cardinals 9-6 in the second half.

Junior Selenia Iacchelli led the Husker offense with two shots on goal.
 
Jamani Earns Big 12 Pick
Junior Aysha Jamani has been selected to the preseason All-Big 12 soccer team in the league’s coach’s poll. Jamani returns to Nebraska for her junior year in 2007 as the Huskers’ most potent offensive threat following the graduation of three-time Big 12 Player of the Year Brittany Timko.  Jamani owns 11 goals and eight assists in two seasons and has started at forward in 37games. A former Big 12 All-Newcomer Team member and two-time second-team All-Big 12 selection, Jamani has consistently performed at the highest level for the Huskers.

2007 Season Preview
The Nebraska women’s soccer team returns to the field with a fresh new look in 2007 for its 14th season under Coach John Walker. The returning contributors will be joined by several players coming back from injury as well as 14 true freshmen.

Abby Penas is back for her senior season after redshirting last year and looks to boost the Huskers’ defense. Sophomore Lauren Isenhower, returning in September, will add offense to the Husker attack after a knee injury sidelined her last year. Meghan Hungerford joins the comeback trail after sitting out last season. She’ll look to build on her past experience and step into the starting lineup in 2007.

The veterans will be joined by an exceptional ensemble of 14 freshmen. The group boasts a collection of awards and honors, while having a distinctly local flavor. Two Lincoln natives, Jamie Sanchez, a graduate of Lincoln Lutheran, and Pius X graduate Alexa Cardona join the Huskers in 2007, while five Omaha athletes add their talent to the squad as well. Other freshmen include 6-0 forward Jaclyn White and goalkeeper Jessica Mills, who graduated early from high school to join the Huskers. NU also add’s Michaella Fulmer, Missouri’s state goal-scoring record holder with 169 her junior season. A former U.S. National Team player, Brittany Goosen rounds out a solid freshman class.

Those fresh faces will be integrated into the Husker program through the experience and leadership of senior Jessie Bruch and juniors Aysha Jamani and Selenia Iacchelli. Bruch looks to cap her Husker career with a deep run into postseason play, while Jamani and Iacchelli will attempt to step into roles as leaders on and off the field.

The many new faces on the field will be joined by two new figures on the sideline. Wally Crittenden and Michelle Demko joined the Nebraska staff as assistant coaches in the offseason, Crittenden as the goalkeeper coach and Demko as NU’s primary recruiter. Both bring an energy and creativity to the staff that will help unite and direct the Huskers.

Crittenden, a native of Houston, Texas, brings an impressive resume as a goalkeeper coach to Nebraska. He worked with the Oklahoma women’s program in 2005 and 2006, helping the Sooners to 14 shutouts over the last two seasons. Prior to his time at OU, Crittenden was active at various levels of soccer, including high school, Olympic Development and Division II. Add to that his time spent as a player at Florida International University and on the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team and Crittenden emerges as an impressive asset to the Huskers this year.

Demko joined the Nebraska staff after a four-year stint at North Carolina State. She helped the Pack improve from a 9-9-1 record in 2003, to an 11-9-1 mark in 2006. Complementing her coaching skills is her impressive resume as a player. Demko played professionally with the Philadelphia Charge in the WUSA for two years. She also had success overseas, playing in Germany, after her collegiate career at the University of Maryland. Demko’s experience at the highest levels of competitive soccer could help provide NU’s players with invaluable skills for future success.

The whole Husker squad has new motivation for the 2007 season. The talented team of experienced upperclassmen and promising freshmen will have an opportunity to prove themselves after a disappointing 2006 season. The Huskers finished the year 10-7-3 and failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996.

Following the loss of three-time Big 12 Player of the Year Brittany Timko and 2006 second-team All-Big 12 team selection Tanya Dennis to graduation, starting spots and major reserve roles are wide open in 2007. The season will be a fresh start for the Huskers and potentially the beginning of another long string of NCAA Tournament runs.

FORWARDS
The Huskers lost their offensive specialist Brittany Timko to graduation following 2006, but Nebraska will still have plenty of talent and experience at forward in 2007.

The Huskers return junior Aysha Jamani as their top striker from a year ago, while junior Sari Raber will add her wealth of experience and sophomore Lauren Isenhower returns to the pitch after several frustrating injuries. Add freshman Michaella Fulmer, one of the top high school players in Missouri last season, and Jaclyn White, a physically imposing force up front, and the Huskers could have a more potent offense this season.

Jamani spent the last two years as a complement to Timko. Now Jamani enters her junior year with a chance to step into the spotlight. In 2006, she finished second to Timko in goals and assists with four of each. This season she becomes the Huskers’ most viable offensive threat. Nebraska will look for her in the box in 2007, hopefully allowing her more touches and more shots. Jamani has recorded 11 goals and eight assists in two seasons while starting 37 games. That consistency has earned her selections to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team while becoming a two-time second-team All Big-12 pick. More importantly it has earned her a chance to step into a leadership role on and off the field in 2007.

After missing the entire 2006 season with a knee injury, Isenhower may be poised to make a return to the Huskers’ starting lineup. The sophomore will add the kind of offensive firepower the Huskers seek, as she recorded seven points in just 14 starts in 2005. She moved to the defense after injuries put her offensive development on hold, but she enters the 2007 season with renewed energy.

Raber has seen action across the pitch for the Huskers. Gaining time as a defender, midfielder and forward, the junior has proven herself a valuable commodity no matter where she plays. That value was recognized by those outside of the Nebraska program. Raber has spent extensive time with Canadian National teams and has played with the W-League’s Vancouver Whitecaps. That experience will come in handy this year for the Huskers, as Raber can help guide the six freshmen forwards the Huskers have acquired.

Several of those freshmen may eventually challenge for playing time. Fulmer brings a goal-scoring ability from O’Hara High School in Kansas City, Mo., that should definitely benefit the Huskers. She owns the Missouri high school state record for career goals and her explosiveness and courage in tight areas make her a strong prospect to bolster the Husker offense. One of her freshman counterparts, Jaclyn White, brings her own style of goal scoring to the field. White possesses an impressive 6-0 frame and brings an added dimension to the Husker front line in 2007. She joins Nebraska from Torrance, Calif., and may quickly become a target in the set plays for which the Huskers have a reputation.

MIDFIELDERS
Nebraska welcomes all of its 2006 starters back in the midfield and adds a talented group of potential contributors. The solid trio of Jessie Bruch, Selenia Iacchelli and Meghan Hungerford will attempt to create more offense to help ease the loss of Timko. They will have help in that endeavor from a large crop of incoming freshmen who feature a distinctly local flavor.

The middle of the pitch will once again be controlled by Bruch, who returns for her senior season as one of Nebraska’s leaders. At 5-11, Bruch uses her physical stature to make herself a target on set plays for the Huskers. Many of her 43 shots last year came off free kicks or corner kicks. She knows how to pass the ball too, racking up three assists last season. She will look to be a key distributor to her teammates this fall.

Iacchelli, a junior, has shown improvement in every season at NU and looks to continue that trend this season. She has worked toward becoming the complete package at the central midfielder position, as her ball-winning skills have improved thanks to her energy and physical play. Iacchelli, a contributor from day one, has started all 42 of her games at NU. Added experience has come from time with Canadian National Teams and the Vancouver Whitecaps of the W-League. That experience will help her develop a large group of newcomers in the midfield position this year.

Meghan Hungerford, a former utility player who has spent time all over the field, will concentrate on the midfield this season. A solid player off the bench in previous years, the junior will look to step into the starting lineup this year. She rejoins the Huskers after receiving a medical redshirt in 2006 for an injury sustained prior to the season. Hungerford will look to build on her 2005 season when she recorded 11 shots, seven of which were on goal.

The well-traveled upperclassmen are joined by a contingent of five freshmen midfielders in 2007. The group will not be far from home as three of them are from Omaha, including a set of twins. Katie and Colleen Goetzmann add their skills to the Husker talent pool after leading Millard North High School to a state title in 2006. Colleen, known for her range on the field, brings good distribution skills to the Nebraska midfield. Katie roams the midfield with strong defensive and aerial skills, possibly making her a future candidate for a move to defense.

DEFENDERS
The Husker defense should be stout with three starters returning in 2007. The defensive corps are led by senior Abby Penas and sophomores Lindsay Poehling, Carly Peetz and Anna Caniglia. They’ll be joined by experienced underclassmen and talented freshmen as the Huskers hope to remain one of the top defenses in the Big 12.

Poehling started all 20 games last season and helped the Huskers hold opponents to fewer than 13 shots per game. Poehling added offensive punch in spring exhibition action with goals against Minnesota and Kansas and topped it off with an assist.

Penas returns for a second senior season after suffering a season-ending injury during Nebraska’s opening exhibition game at Louisville in 2006. After receiving a medical redshirt, Penas looks to help fill the void left by two-time All-Big 12 selection Tanya Dennis. Known for her aggressive play, Penas adds a tone of physical toughness to the 2007 team.

Peetz looks to increase her impact on the field and in the locker room as a leader for the Husker defenders in 2007. Peetz had a stellar freshman year, starting all 20 games for Nebraska and earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. She showed her prowess in the classroom as well by being named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the fall and spring semesters. She returns to the Huskers with added international experience after spending the off-season with the U.S. Under-20 and 21 National Teams.

Caniglia started all 20 games as a freshman in 2006 and will look to capitalize on her early experience this year. Now the sophomore will help lead a group of underclassmen that solidify the defender position as one of the deepest for Nebraska.

Freshmen Rachel Hawryluk and Meredith Shuman add even more talented depth for NU at defender. Hawryluk comes to Nebraska from Trinity Christian Academy in Dallas, Texas, while Shuman will challenge for playing time after breaking several school records at Bellevue West in Omaha.

GOALKEEPERS
The Husker goalkeeper position is up for grabs this season, as sophomore Brittany Pfeil and freshman Jessica Mills compete for the job. Both look to step in after the departure of two-year starter Jamie Klages.

Pfeil gained limited playing time behind Klages, but played well in Nebraska’s spring exhibition games. She posted a mark of 3-1-1, allowing just five goals in five games. Pfeil posted a 3-0 shutout of South Dakota State and ended her spring on a confident note with a 3-0 shutout of Big 12 opponent Colorado. The Buffaloes advanced to the Sweet 16 in last year’s NCAA Tournament and finished the season ranked No. 12.

Mills brings a strong resume and abundant experience to the Husker program. The 5-7 freshman is one of two Texas natives to join NU’s 2007 recruiting class, along with Hawryluk.

Mills is the youngest member of the Husker squad, after graduating from high school a year early to join Nebraska. She may be young, but Mills posted a 17-2 record in her final season in high school and has played extensively with the Texas Olympic Development program and the Region III team.

SCHEDULE
The 2007 schedule features 10 home games for the Huskers at the Nebraska Soccer Field. The field will be the home of the Huskers for the third year. Located conveniently between Memorial Stadium and the NU Coliseum, the field will feature primarly Friday late afternoon and Sunday afternoon games.

The Huskers’ road schedule features eight squads that qualified for the 2006 NCAA Tournament, including an exhibition match with Louisville on Aug. 25 to start the season.

Nebraska travels to the USC Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif., early in the season to face two tough SEC schools in Tennessee and Georgia. The Huskers return from the tournament for their longest homestand from Sept. 21 to Sept. 30. Nebraska faces two tournament qualifiers, Saint Louis and Florida, and kicks off its Big 12 schedule in those nine short days. Nebraska hosts conference foes Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Sept. 28 and 30, before traveling to Colorado and Texas.

The Huskers’ conference schedule includes home games against Baylor and Iowa State, while traveling to Texas Tech, Kansas and Missouri. A home match against Texas A&M late in the season will be a key game for the Huskers, as A&M won the Big 12 regular-season title last year and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual champion North Carolina.

The Huskers begin postseason play Nov. 7 at the Big 12 Championship in San Antonio, Texas, as Nebraska seeks its sixth Big 12 title. Nebraska’s success in the conference tournament has historically been a stepping stone to the NCAA Tournament. The first round of the 2007 tournament kicks off Nov. 16.