Season Preview: All-Big 12 Selections Lead Huskers into 2010

Following its 15th winning season in the past 16 years and a fourth-place Big 12 finish, Nebraska brings back nine starters for the 2010 season and is poised to make a run at the top of the conference. The Huskers are five years removed from their last NCAA Tournament appearance (2005), but possess reasons for optimism this fall.

Among the bright spots this coming season is the return of 2009 Big 12 Offensive Player and Rookie of the Year Morgan Marlborough. As a freshman, Marlborough led the league with 21 goals and guided Nebraska to an 11-5-4 season. She is joined by another all-conference selection in junior midfielder/forward Molly Thomas. Together, the duo accounted for 47 percent of Nebraska's scoring last season, which ranked second in the NCAA with 3.10 goals per game.

The explosive offense carried the Huskers to a 6-1-2 non-conference record and 5-3-2 mark in league play. For the first time since 2001, Nebraska was not defeated on its home field, a dominance that included a 2-1 upset over No. 14 Texas A&M when Marlborough scored both goals. The Huskers' unbeaten home mark was in jeopardy in the last game of the regular season, but Thomas led the Huskers back from a 1-0 deficit to down Iowa State. The Omaha native scored the game-tying goal in the 72nd minute and then assisted Lauren Isenhower's game-winner in overtime.

The Senior Day victory marked the departure of six players from the Nebraska soccer program. Included in the group were three starters - All-Big 12 defender Carly Peetz, midfielder Anna Caniglia and forward Shay Powell. While their contributions and success will be missed, the 2010 Huskers will focus on replacing those roles with experienced veterans or talented newcomers and add to a solid returning corps of nine starters.

Offensively, in addition to Marlborough and Thomas, Nebraska brings back sophomore midfielder/forward Jordan Jackson after her five-goal, three-assist freshman campaign, and senior midfielder Colleen Goetzmann, who had a breakout junior season come to a sudden end due to a torn ACL in late September. In all, the Husker offense returns 70 percent of its goals (43-of-62 goals) and 60 percent of its assists (34-of-57) from last season. Caniglia was the team leader with nine assists in 2009, but Marlborough and Thomas each accounted for seven, followed by defender Blair Slapper with six.

Slapper and senior defender Brittany Goosen will have the responsibility of maintaining a strong backline following the loss of Peetz. After giving up 1.65 goals per game last year, the Huskers also return a healthy goalkeeper in Tara Macdonald. The senior has battled foot injuries the past two years but could be one of the Big 12's top goalies if she can avoid further injuries this season.

The 2010 senior class also includes experienced defender/forward Jaclyn White and forward Michaella Fulmer. The Huskers suffered an early season setback when Fulmer tore her ACL at the beginning of fall camp, although the coaching staff is optimistic she will return in 2011 following a medical redshirt season.

While the absence of Fulmer may mark the loss of a potential starter, the depth of the forward position is a spot where the Huskers look to remain strong behind Marlborough.

Nebraska has shown many signs of a program with resurgence over the past two seasons. The Huskers hold a 21-10-5 record that dates back to September 2008 and includes three wins over ranked opponents. The return of eight talented starters and two All-Big 12 selections could be the further key ingredients to continue the climb up the conference ladder and back to the NCAA Tournament.

Forwards
Nebraska looks to have one of the best forward groups in the Big 12 Conference with Marlborough leading the charge. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native ranked fifth in the NCAA with 21 goals last season. Her record-breaking freshman season included two hat tricks (vs. Akron and Oklahoma), the first in which she tied the single-game school record with four goals. Marlborough's goal-scoring ability (1.11 per game) was an integral part of NU's success, as the Huskers held an 8-0-3 record when she found the back of the net. Marlborough is a complete offensive force with seven assists, tying her with Thomas for the third-most on the team in 2009. Thomas is expected to see time as a forward, but may also see her role shifted to the midfield due to her quickness and ability to set up offensive opportunities down the sidelines and in the corners. Jackson could see a similar role to Thomas after tallying three assists in 14 starts last season.

Junior Alexa Cardona is coming back from an injury-plagued season last fall and will attempt to gain playing time as a forward. Cardona only appeared in 11 games following a redshirt year in 2008, but competed for the Puerto Rican National Team over the summer and returns healthy.

True freshmen Megan Merrill and Maddie Hanssler will also look for playing time at the forward position.

Midfielders
Thomas, Jackson and senior Colleen Goetzmann headline the NU midfielders at a position that could provide an ample amount of scoring in 2010. The Huskers lost Anna Caniglia to graduation, but return a wealth of experience and talent to a strong position group this season.

A second-team All-Big 12 pick in 2009, Thomas has 13 goals and eight assists during her career. The Omaha native began her career as a forward, but has shifted to the midfield where she increased her offensive production with seven assists in 2009. Thomas has started 38-of-40 career games, including every match last season.

Jackson showed potential to be an all-conference-caliber player as a freshman when she notched five goals and three assists, including the game-winning goal against Oklahoma and an assist in the 2-1 upset over No. 14 Texas A&M. She worked her way into the lineup to start 14 matches.

Goetzmann is returning from a torn ACL that ended her junior season after 10 games. Up to that point, she had been one of Nebraska's best players, netting four goals after only one in 2008. The senior is poised to make her final season count after the misfortune last fall.

Senior classmate Anna White provides another strong and experienced option in the Husker midfield. A 44-game starter through three years, White is one of the most determined and hard-nosed players on the NU roster. Along with junior Katie Goetzmann, the two could split time between the defender and midfielder positions. Goetzmann had three assists last season when she started all 20 games.

Nebraska's incoming recruiting class, in addition to redshirt freshman Bri Badje, should bolster the midfield with Ari Romero, Ashley Hick, Hannah Dittmar and Kylie Kusleika all bidding for playing time.

Defenders
The Huskers held three opponents scoreless last season and gave up 1.57 goals per game while using two goalkeepers. Nebraska returns two starters from the backline and will look to replace departed All-Big 12 defender Carly Peetz. The two returnees - senior Brittany Goosen and junior Blair Slapper - will be backed by senior Jaclyn White, who has appeared in 37 career matches. Junior Katie Goetzmann and White also have the ability to be moved from midfield to defense and further solidify the Nebraska backline.

Goosen has been one of the most successful and important players in the NU soccer program over the past three seasons, starting 19 games each year. She has one assist each of the past two seasons, although her true contributions and important assets to the team are not indicated in the statistics.

Slapper has made a name for herself out of set plays, converting several of her six assists in 2009 off corner kicks and free kicks. She is a solid option alongside Goosen to hold opponent scoring down in 2010.

Freshman Maritza Hayes may be the only newcomer to play defender this season.

Goalkeepers
Senior Tara Macdonald looks to be the top option among the NU goalkeepers. The Austin, Texas native started 11 games last season while she battled foot injuries. In her shortened season, Macdonald boasted a 6-2-3 record and a 1.34 goals-against average. She has positioned herself to possibly reach the school's all-time top 10 lists in career saves and wins if she can put together a solid season this fall.

While Macdonald may be the frontrunner to start in net, redshirt freshman Emma Stevens has made significant strides toward becoming a starter during her time at Nebraska. Stevens played well during the 2010 spring season that was highlighted by a shutout against defending Mountain West Conference champion BYU.

Two freshmen will also begin careers as goalkeepers in Mallorie Monhollon and Amy Swearer.

Schedule
Highlighted by 10 home matches and five contests against 2009 NCAA Tournament qualifiers, Nebraska will face a challenging and exciting schedule in 2010. Following the season opener at New Mexico on Aug. 22, Nebraska's first home match will be part of the adidas Husker Classic on Friday, Aug. 27 against Loyola University (Chicago). Nebraska also faces defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Loyola College (Maryland) on Sunday, Aug. 29.

The Husker schedule features five September home matches, although NU begins the month at Indiana on Sept. 4. Nebraska then welcomes 2009 NCAA Tournament qualifier IUPUI for a Labor Day battle on Sept. 6 at the Nebraska Soccer Field before hitting the road to take on Arizona (Sept. 10) and Arizona State (Sept. 12) in Tempe.

NU rounds out the non-conference portion of the schedule Sept. 17 and 19 by hosting Cal State Fullerton and Iowa at the Nebraska Soccer Field to kick off a four-game homestand.

Coach John Walker's squad begins the 2010 league slate Sept. 24-26 vs. Texas and Texas A&M in Lincoln. The Huskers will face Texas schools in the first four Big 12 matches as NU then travels to Baylor (Oct. 1) and Texas Tech (Oct. 3) to begin the month of October.

NU returns to Lincoln to take on Big 12 North foes Iowa State (Oct. 8) and Missouri (Oct. 10) the following week, before its final two-match week beginning Thursday at Oklahoma (Oct. 14) and Saturday at Oklahoma State (Oct. 16).

Senior Day will be Oct. 22 vs. Kansas, while the regular season schedule concludes Oct. 29 at Colorado. The 2010 Big 12 Championship will run from Nov. 3-7 in San Antonio. The NCAA Championship runs from Nov. 12-Dec. 5.