Huskers Open Big Ten Play on Thursday

Game 7
Northwestern vs. Nebraska
Thursday, Sept. 11 l Lincoln, Neb. l 2:30 p.m.
Stadium: Nebraska Soccer Field
Capacity: 3,500
Series History: Nebraska leads, 5-1-0
TV: Big Ten Network
Live Stats: Huskers.com

Game 8
Illinois vs. Nebraska
Sunday, Sept. 14 l Lincoln, Neb. l 1 p.m.
Stadium: Nebraska Soccer Field
Capacity: 3,500
Series History: Nebraska trails, 1-4-0
Video: Big Ten Digital Network
Live Stats: Huskers.com

The Nebraska soccer team (4-2) begins its conference slate on Thursday by hosting Northwestern in a Big Ten Network televised game at 2:30 p.m. (CT) at the Nebraska Soccer Field. The Huskers complete their weekend home stand on Sunday against Illinois at 1 p.m.

Nebraska and Northwestern are meeting for the seventh time in series history, with the Huskers holding a 5-1-0 advantage. The Big Red has won the last three meetings, which includes a 2-1 triumph on the road in 2013.

The Huskers and Fighting Illini are set to battle for the sixth time, with Illinois leading the series, 4-1-0. NU picked up its first win against Illinois last season by a 3-2 margin.

Thursday’s match will be televised by the Big Ten Network, as Kevin Kugler and Danielle Slaton call the action from the Nebraska Soccer Field. Sunday’s game will be streamed on the Big Ten Digital Network.

Last Time Out: Huskers Respond to Double OT Heartbreaker with 4-0 Triumph
Nebraska went 1-1 at home over the weekend, falling to No. 20 Oklahoma in double overtime on Friday, Sept. 5, before dominating North Dakota by a 4-0 margin on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Against the Sooners, Katie Kraeutner scored in the sixth minute to put NU up early, but Oklahoma tied the score 1-1 in the 71st minute with Ayana O’Neal’s goal. Despite Nebraska controlling on offense to start the second overtime, Oklahoma’s defense managed to withstand the pressure and scored in the 107th minute for the win.

On Sunday, the Huskers outshot North Dakota 32-2, as Jaycie Johnson scored twice, and Mayme Conroy and Courtney Claassen each added one goal in the 4-0 win.

Both of Johnson’s goals came in the first three minutes of the second half. Conroy scored NU’s first goal of the game in the ninth minute. Claassen scored off a rebound in the 76th minute for her first career goal. Caroline Flynn recorded two assists.

Huskers Sweep Butler, Marquette
Nebraska took down Butler, 1-0, on Friday, Aug. 29 at the Nebraska Soccer Field before defeating Marquette, 3-2, on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Valley Fields in Milwaukee, Wis.

The Huskers outshot the Bulldogs 17-2, but it wasn’t until Caroline Flynn’s goal in the 83rd minute that NU got on the scoreboard. Flynn scored from 30 yards out to the top left corner of the net from the right side of the field. Goalkeeper Kelly Schatz earned two saves during the shutout.

Against the Golden Eagles, Nebraska trailed 2-0 before scoring three goals in the final 26 minutes en route to a 3-2 triumph. Jaycie Johnson scored twice, making her first goal in the 65th minute before adding the game winner off an assist from Caroline Gray in the 83rd minute. Mayme Conroy added a goal for the Huskers in the 69th minute.

Huskers Split Opening Weekend Games
Nebraska opened the regular season on Friday, Aug. 22 with a 4-0 victory over SMU before falling to DePaul, 2-1, on Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

Against the Mustangs, goalkeeper Kelly Schatz earned a shutout in her first career start at the position. She compiled five saves, four of which came in the second half. Caroline Gray, Caroline Flynn, Jaycie Johnson and Sydney Miramontez each scored for the Huskers in the home opener.

Against the Blue Demons, Johnson scored the lone goal for the Huskers in the 89th minute off an assist from Flynn, but DePaul had already built a 2-0 lead. Elise Wyatt scored for the Blue Demons in the 16th minute before Abby Reed added a goal in the 85th minute.

Scouting the Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern is 4-1-1 on the season with victories over Marquette, UIC, Miami (Ohio) and Saint Louis. The Wildcats lost their first game of the 2014 campaign to Fairleigh Dickinson, but haven’t lost since. That stretch includes a 0-0 tie against Missouri on Sept. 5.

Addie Steiner has led the Northwestern offense with six goals, while Kim Jerantowski has scored twice. Niki Sebo, Grace Orndorff and Rachel Zampa each have one goal this season. Goalkeeper Lauren Clem has given up only two goals in nearly 539 minutes of action. She has 18 saves, while completing three shutouts.

Scouting the Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois is 5-1-0 this season and holds a five-match win streak heading into the weekend. The Fighting Illini lost their season opener to Notre Dame by a 3-1 margin before reeling off victories over Louisville, Arizona State, Oakland, College of Charleston and UAB. Illinois will face Iowa on Friday before its match on Sunday against the Huskers.

Jannelle Flaws leads the Fighting Illini in goals scored with four over a span of six games. Allison Stucky, Abby Elinsky and Amy Feher have each scored twice, while Reagan Robishaw, Kara Marbury and Emily Osoba each have one goal. Goalkeepers Claire Wheatley and Michelle Denley have split time at the position. Wheatley has started four games and has eight saves over 405 minutes. Denley has 10 saves over 142 minutes.

Schatz Filling Goalkeeper Role
Sophomore Kelly Schatz has started all six games at goalkeeper for the Huskers this season, playing over 514 minutes. Schatz has 18 saves and has earned two complete game shutouts. She also contributed to a third NU shutout as she played the first 48 minutes against North Dakota. Schatz has given up six goals on the season, but holds a .750 save percentage.

Johnson Continues to Produce on Offense
Nebraska’s leading goal scorer from 2013, Jaycie Johnson, started 2014 where she left off from last season and has six goals through six games.

Johnson has scored two goals in each of the first three weekends, managing a pair of scores in both the Marquette and North Dakota matches. She scored once against SMU and once while facing DePaul.

A Lake Winnebago, Mo. native, Johnson has taken 26 shots this season, 18 of which have been on goal.

Final Season at Nebraska Soccer Field
The Huskers are in their 10th and final season at the Nebraska Soccer Field before moving into the Nebraska Soccer and Tennis Complex next season. Since moving to campus in 2005, NU has compiled a 66-26-12 record and has seven home games remaining in 2014.

2014 Season Outlook
Nebraska’s 2014 team includes five seniors in Head Coach John Walker’s 21st season at the helm of the school’s soccer program. The Huskers also welcomed back All-Big Ten second-team member Jaycie Johnson, who is a sophomore in 2014 after leading the team with 17 goals last season. The Huskers added 12 newcomers in the offseason in addition to their 12 returning letterwinners from 2013.

Huskers to Make Three BTN Appearances
Nebraska will appear on the Big Ten Network three times this season, while also making seven Big Ten Digital Network showings.

The Huskers open BTN’s 2014 soccer coverage this Thursday against Northwestern at the Nebraska Soccer Field. The game is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.

Nebraska will host Big Ten newcomer Maryland on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m., on BTN. The game was originally set for 1 p.m., but was changed for TV scheduling. NU’s final regular season appearance on the network comes at Michigan on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 2:30 p.m.