Nebraska Visits Northwestern to Start Regular Season

Game 1: Nebraska (0-0) vs. Northwestern (0-0)
Date: Friday, Aug. 22
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Lakeside Field, Evanston, Ill.
Free Live Stats: NUsports.com
Subscription Live Video: NUsports.com

Lincoln-The Huskers will begin the regular season on the road for just the second time in school history, as Nebraska visits Evanston, Ill., to face Northwestern on Friday at 5 p.m. Nebraska has previously opened every season at home except the 2000 season, when it began the season with a 4-0 win over Minnesota in Minneapolis. The Huskers are 8-4-2 in season-opening games.

Coach John Walker will be at the helm for the Huskers for a 15th consecutive season. The only coach in Nebraska soccer history, Walker has guided NU to unprecedented success with eight Big 12 titles and will look to lead Nebraska back to the top of the conference after a 5-10-4 record last fall.

Walker and the Huskers completed a promising fall camp with a 7-0 rout of South Dakota last Thursday in Vermillion, S.D. NU was led by its one off-season addition, Molly Thomas, who notched six points on two goals and two assists. Thomas, a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, is the only freshman on the 2008 squad and will have plenty of upperclassmen to look toward for leadership, including five seniors.

Forward Aysha Jamani is one of those seniors and has already gained recognition as a leader for Nebraska. She earned a spot on the 2008 preseason All-Big 12 team last Friday for a second consecutive season. Canadian midfielders Sari Raber and Selenia Iacchelli will look to cap their Husker careers with a standout senior season, while Brittany Pfeil and Lindsay Poehling will be senior leaders in the NU defense.

Free live stats for Nebraska’s game with Northwestern will be available through NUsports.com, while subscription live video will also be provided. For a free video interview with Husker senior Sari Raber, click on the link above.

Scouting Northwestern
The Wildcats have been a middle-of-the-pack team in the Big Ten in recent years, but third-year coach Stephanie Erickson has helped NU make moves in the right direction. Northwestern posted a 9-7-4 overall record last season and finished tied for seventh in the conference with a 4-4-2 mark.

Erickson and the Wildcats lost their top two scorers from last season, but return seven starters to this year’s squad. Sophomore forward Same Greene scored 10 points last season and will look to step into the shoes of the departed Kelsey Hans and Shannon Schneeman. Alicia Herczeg is an early candidate to lead the midfield, returning for her junior season after scoring nine points last season. The Wildcats will also have a new starting goalkeeper in sophomore Carolyn Edwards, who appeared in four games last season. NU has 17 freshmen or sophomores among its 25 total players.

In its preseason game, Northwestern tied Louisville, 0-0, in Evanston on Sept. 13. Edwards made two saves to pick up the shutout, while a total of 21 Wildcats saw the field. Herczeg and Greene both posted two shots each.

Last time out: Nebraska Routs South Dakota, 7-0
The Nebraska women’s soccer team concluded its fall camp with an exclamation point, as the Huskers routed South Dakota, 7-0, in exhibition play last Thursday at the USD Soccer Field in Vermillion, S.D.

NU dominated in every aspect of the game, racking up 30 shots, including 16 in the second half, while allowing just 11 total for USD. Nebraska put 17 shots on goal to South Dakota’s five. The Huskers also added three corner kicks.

Freshman forward Molly Thomas led Nebraska’s offensive outburst with six points on two goals and two assists. Thomas notched NU’s fourth goal in the 81st minute, assisted on sophomore Michaella Fulmer’s goal in the 82nd minute and just 10 seconds later added another assist on junior Brittney Lanier’s goal. Thomas topped off the Husker scoring with NU’s seventh goal in the 88th minute.

Thomas had plenty of help from her Nebraska teammates. Lanier notched four points on two assists in the 23rd and 50th minutes before scoring her goal. Senior Aysha Jamani had three points of her own with a goal in the 23rd minute and an assist in the 81st minute. Senior Lindsay Poehling scored in the 50th minute, while junior Lauren Isenhower started the scoring with a goal in the 11th minute. Nine Huskers notched at least one point in the game.

Sophomore Jessica Mills made the start in net for Nebraska and collected three saves in 66 minutes. Senior Brittany Pfeil made two saves to close the game and combine for the shutout. USD’s Ann Opsahl and Jennifer Ogren made 10 saves between them. Katie Quinones had five shots for the Coyotes, while Sarah Halbach and Erin Bello both had two shots on goal.

Jamani Named to Preseason All-Big 12 Squad
Senior Aysha Jamani was selected to the preseason All-Big 12 soccer team in a vote of the league’s coaches last Friday.

Jamani, who earns the honor for a second consecutive season, is a welcome returnee to the 2008 lineup after an injury cut short her 2007 season. The Alberta, Canada, native started Nebraska’s first 10 contests, but a ruptured Achilles tendon brought her season to an abrupt end. A former Big 12 All-Newcomer team member and two-time second-team All-Big 12 selection, Jamani owns 11 career goals and eight assists in 47 starts for the Huskers.

2008 Season Preview: Returnees to Lead Huskers in 2008
One word crossed the minds of Coach John Walker and the Nebraska women’s soccer team more than once during the offseason:

Development.

The Huskers started 2007 on a 4-2-3 run after welcoming 14 freshmen to the 31-player squad, but injuries, close games and bad breaks sent the Huskers to a 5-10-4 overall record.

After refocusing its efforts in the offseason and signing one of the best players in the history of the state, Nebraska is reloaded and ready to redeem itself in 2008. The Huskers return 10 starters from last year’s squad, after only losing midfielder Jessie Bruch to graduation. Twenty letterwinners also return, as the team has trimmed its roster to 25 this fall, but still has plenty of players with last year’s struggles fresh on their minds to motivate them to strive for success in 2008.

A plethora of key returnees will be looked upon to lead the team in 2008, including senior captains Selenia Iacchelli and Sari Raber. Both natives of Canada, the two will roam the midfield for the Big Red and look to cap their Husker careers with the traditional levels of Nebraska success on the field. Goalkeeper Jessica Mills will be back in net for NU after a solid freshman season in which she posted a 1.68 goals-against average. All four defenders in front of her return for another season, as Lindsay Poehling, Anna Caniglia, Carly Peetz and Brittany Goosen will be expected to play shut-down defense this fall. The NU offense welcomes back its top six scorers, including junior Shay Powell, who led the team with 11 points last season. Senior Aysha Jamani retakes her post on the frontline after an injury ended her 2007 season early.

Nebraska’s group of returning contributors will be vital to its success this fall, but one player may add the final component in the Huskers’ attempt to climb to the top of the Big 12 once again. Molly Thomas will be the lone first-year player on the Husker roster in 2008. Thomas is one of the best soccer players ever to come out of the state of Nebraska, after she led Millard North to two state championships while scoring 81 points in the past three seasons. Her accomplishments earned her the Gatorade Player-of-the-Year honor twice. She now rejoins three other Millard North alums, as this fall’s roster features 12 Nebraska natives. Thomas’ talent and exuberance gives her a chance to be a great contributor this fall under the leadership of NU’s battle-tested leaders.

Thomas and the rest of the team face another challenging schedule in the always-tough Big 12 Conference, but the Huskers may possess the correct elements to return to greatness on the conference and national landscape.

Forwards
The Husker offensive corps looks to be one of the most improved areas for Nebraska this season with a good mix of proven veterans and talented underclassmen comprising NU’s front line.

Nebraska returns its top six point scorers from last season, including forwards Shay Powell and Alexa Cardona. The duo, along with Aysha Jamani and Lauren Isenhower, who are returning from injury, will combine to lead the Husker offense along with several promising young players like Michaella Fulmer and Jaclyn White. The NU frontline will also feature the Huskers’ only offseason addition-two-time Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year Molly Thomas.

After scoring just 25 goals as a team last season, the Huskers welcome back Jamani and her 12 career goals for her senior season. A ruptured Achilles tendon cut Jamani’s 2007 campaign short after one goal in the first 10 games, but now the Big Red will count on her for a strong finishing touch in 2008. Jamani’s ability to get shots off inside the box could give the Huskers the go-to goal scorer they missed in 2007. A fierce competitor on the field, Jamani will headline a group of veteran forwards for Nebraska.

Powell, a junior, will be counted on for leadership in 2008. After serving as a reserve in 2006 and scoring just two points, Powell stepped into the spotlight last season, finishing as the Huskers’ leading scorer with 11 points, despite a midseason quad injury. Powell, known for her speed, proved herself as a big-game player with goals against Texas A&M and Texas, when both squads were ranked No. 3 in the nation. Nebraska will count on that fearless attitude to help Powell continue her development.

Isenhower, a junior, may seem like a newcomer after sitting out the majority of the last two seasons with injuries, but the Lenexa, Kan., native is healthy and will likely garner playing time for the Huskers’ front line. Isenhower had a stellar freshman season in 2005, tying for third on the team in points with two goals and three assists. Knee injuries in the summer of 2006 and the spring of 2007 forced her to the sideline for all but seven of Nebraska’s games in the last two years. Isenhower looks to be back to form after a strong spring season. She led NU with five goals and hopes to capitalize on that momentum this fall.

Cardona will contend for starting time after seeing action in all 19 contests for Nebraska last fall and finishing fourth on the team with seven points. Fulmer, a goal-scoring phenom in high school, and White, an imposing figure at 6-0, will continue to develop their individual skills in the Husker offense this season.

Nebraska’s forwards will also welcome a newcomer in 2008. Molly Thomas, who will be the lone true freshman on this fall’s squad, is one of the biggest signees in recent history for the Huskers. Thomas capped an illustrious high school career at Millard North with her second state championship last spring. After notching 35 goals in her senior season, Thomas could be an immediate impact player for Nebraska with her speed and ability to find the back of the net.

Midfielders
Nebraska lost its lone starter (Jessie Bruch) from the midfield, but the position is still deep for the Huskers. Seniors Selenia Iacchelli and Sari Raber, who are both team captains this fall will headline the midfield. The two, along with juniors Brittney Lanier and Julie Berkshire, will team with experienced sophomores Shannon Dickerson, Colleen Goetzmann and Anna White to provide a plethora of lineups in the midfield. Redshirt freshmen Brianna Eilman and Katie Goetzmann will likely earn playing time after a year to grow and learn the Husker system.

NU’s midfield will likely be controlled by Iacchelli and Raber. The two, who are both natives of Canada, are leaders on and off the field for the Huskers. They finished second and third on the team in points last season, as they combined for 18 points on six goals and six assists. Iacchelli scored all three of her goals on set plays to establish herself as a threat from anywhere on the field. Raber collected three assists for herself, and continued her solid play in whatever position Walker chose to put her. Two of the smartest players on the pitch, Iacchelli and Raber both excel in leading the Huskers in the classroom. They have combined for 15 selections to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and earned first-team academic All-Big 12 honors four times. The play of Iacchelli and Raber will likely be an integral part of Nebraska’s success this fall.

Berkshire returns for her junior season and has developed into a reliable option in NU’s attack after a career year in 2007. She set career marks in points and goals last fall and will be counted on as an upperclassman to provide valuable leadership to NU’s talented underclassmen. Lanier, a fellow junior, has also shown improvement as a proficient player in the Husker system and will use her enthusiasm to continue her development this fall.

Nebraska’s veteran midfield will be supplemented by a group of promising young Huskers. Dickerson, Colleen Goetzmann and Anna White are all sophomores, but all three have seen starting time in the Husker lineup. Dickerson appeared in 16 games, starting 10 contests, in 2006, but redshirted last season after a torn ACL. White was in and out of the starting lineup last season after earning the starting nod in fall camp, before separating her shoulder during the season. Goetzmann also impressed the Husker coaching staff enough last season to see significant playing time. She appeared in all 19 NU contests and made nine starts. All three bring individual strengths to Nebraska’s midfield and all three are expected to see the pitch in 2008.

Eilman and Katie Goetzmann were two of five Husker freshmen to sit out last fall after NU welcomed a 14-player recruiting class in 2007. Both have shown physical development during the year and their continued positive attitudes could earn them time on the pitch this season.

Defenders
The Husker backline showed flashes of brilliance in 2007, collecting four shutouts and allowing just two goals in NU’s first four games. The Nebraska defense looks to be even more stout this fall with all four starters returning. Senior Lindsay Poehling leads NU’s defense, but gets plenty of support from juniors Carly Peetz and Anna Caniglia. Sophomore Brittany Goosen rounds out the starting quartet after a strong season last fall. Redshirt freshmen Jamie Sanchez, Blair Slapper, Bri Eilman and Katie Goetzmann will provide depth to an experienced Husker backline.

Poehling used her physical play and a strong leg to continue her top-notch defending in 2007. She started every game until a knee injury limited her in the final two contests. She has missed just one game in the past two seasons and has used her consistency to become one of Walker’s most reliable players. She helped the defense allow fewer than 13 shots per game last fall and will look to continue that play as a leader in 2008.

Caniglia and Peetz continued their impressive play last season in the NU defense, as both started all 19 Husker contests. The two have been difference-makers since joining the Nebraska squad and have started every NU game the past two seasons, a streak of 39 consecutive contests. The two have developed a chemistry on the pitch that has allowed them to take scoring chances up the field. Peetz contributed two game-winning scores in 2007, while Caniglia added a goal and assist of her own.

Goosen was a pleasant surprise in 2007, as she worked her way into the starting lineup for all 19 of Nebraska’s games. With her impressive field awareness, Goosen stepped into one of the most high-pressure positions on the field and excelled. She contributed on all four of NU’s shutouts and scored her first career goal against Georgia on Sept. 16. Goosen has a proven rapport with Caniglia, Peetz and Poehling and will look to expand upon that strength in 2008.

Slapper and Sanchez eagerly await their chance to see the playing field for the Big Red after sitting out a season. The duo’s hard-working attitude will help them earn game experience this season. Eilman and Katie Goetzmann may also see time on the defense.

Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers Jessica Mills and Brittany Pfeil return for the Huskers in 2008, after sharing time in the net last fall.

With the starting job up for grabs last fall, Mills edged out Pfeil and showed enough talent to start all 19 contests in 2007. Mills posted a solid 1.68 goals-against average, while collecting 79 saves and allowing just 31 goals. She posted a shutout over Northwestern in her first career start and went on to earn Big 12 Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors after shutting out Saint Louis on Sept. 21, and allowing one goal against No. 12 Florida on Sept. 23.

Pfeil, a leader in the clubhouse in 2008, appeared in five games last season, seeing 130 minutes of action and recording three saves. One of five seniors on this year’s squad, Pfeil has used her calm demeanor and work ethic to make marked improvement under the direction of goalkeeper coach Wally Crittenden. Mills and Pfeil give NU a formidable goalkeeper tandem in 2008, while junior Julie Berkshire may also see time in the net.

Schedule
The 2008 schedule features 11 home contests at the Nebraska Soccer Field, including several key matches against Big 12 foes.

Nebraska faces South Dakota in an exhibition game on Aug. 13 in Vermillion, S.D., before kicking off the regular season on the road against Northwestern on Aug. 22. Three of the Huskers’ first four games are on the road, as Nebraska faces UC Riverside on Aug. 29 in its first home competition, but travels to Florida for an Aug. 31 contest. NU then squares off against Saint Louis in Missouri on Sept. 5. Other Husker road opponents include Baylor (Oct. 5), Texas A&M (Oct. 10), Oklahoma (Oct. 24), Oklahoma State (Oct. 26) and Iowa State (Oct. 31). Nebraska concludes the regular season with a tough three-game road trip against the Sooners, Cowgirls and Cyclones.

The Huskers will have a chance to build momentum in the middle of the season with an eight-game home stand beginning with UAB on Sept. 7. NU plays Drake (Sept. 12), Oakland (Sept. 14), North Dakota State (Sept. 19) and Stephen F. Austin (Sept. 21) in non-conference action, before beginning Big 12 play against Kansas on Sept. 26 and Missouri on Sept. 28. Nebraska will face always-tough Texas on Oct. 3, and look to avenge a loss from last season against Colorado on Oct. 17. The Huskers wrap up play at the Nebraska Soccer Field against Texas Tech on Oct. 19.

Nebraska’s 2008 schedule is once again one of the toughest in the nation, as the Huskers will face eight schools that qualified for the 2007 NCAA Championships. Postseason play begins with the Big 12 Championship on Nov. 5, while the first round of the 2008 NCAA Championship starts on Nov. 14. North Carolina will host this fall’s College Cup in Cary, N. C., on Dec. 5-7.