Husker Soccer Will Honor Underwood Friday Night

Huskers Win First Exhibition, 2-0

Buy Women's Soccer Tickets Here

Fond Memories of Underwood

2015 Nebraska Soccer Roster

2015 Husker Soccer Schedule

 

Randy York’s N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

Nebraska's soccer team unveiled Barbara Hibner Stadium Wednesday night with a 2-0 exhibition match win against South Dakota State, but the more emotional christening of the Huskers’ ultramodern sports complex, which includes tennis, will be Friday’s 7:05 p.m. exhibition match against South Dakota. Admission is free.

Nebraska Head Soccer Coach John Walker, assistant coach Marty Everding and volunteer coach Anna Trent selected Friday night’s game to honor Peter Underwood, pictured below. Underwood, the Huskers’ popular 31-year-old assistant soccer coach, was killed last May in a car accident while on a recruiting trip in Iowa.

Huskers Will Honor the Late Peter Underwood Friday Night

Nebraska’s team and coaches mourned the death of a devoted husband, father and role model coach, and the Husker staff and team decided to honor Underwood before launching their official season-opener against Kansas on Friday, Aug. 21, at 7:05 p.m.

Two years removed from a Big Ten regular-season soccer championship and the conference’s postseason tournament title, Nebraska is ranked 10th in the 2015 Big Ten preseason poll. The voting undoubtedly reflects the inherent youth on the Huskers’ 2015 roster, which includes nine freshmen, 10 sophomores, five juniors and only two seniors.

Johnson, Flynn, Oderman on Big Ten Players to Watch List

On Wednesday, three Huskers were named “Players to Watch” for the 2015 season. They include Jaycie Johnson, pictured above, Nebraska’s returning scoring leader with 11 goals. The junior forward from Lake Winnebago, Mo., spent this summer as a member of the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team. Two seasons ago, Johnson became the first freshman in NCAA history to score four goals in a single match.

Fellow junior Caroline Flynn is another returning starter. The midfielder/forward bypassed her senior high school season at Lincoln, Neb., Southwest to compete for the Huskers. The Communications Studies major with a 4.0 GPA also serves as the 2015-16 president of the Nebraska Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Senior defender Jaylyn Oderman is also on the Player to Watch list. The Gretna, Neb., native directed Nebraska’s defense to five shutouts last season and led the Huskers in minutes played with 1,739. Oderman also joined Flynn as Academic All-Big Ten honorees last season.

USA World Cup Champions Ignited Interest in Women’s Soccer

When the United States Women beat Japan to win the World Cup in Vancouver British Columbia last month, women's soccer awareness multiplied and interest increased. The testimony included a World Cup television viewing audience that reached 22.6 million viewers, a figure comparable to the 23.5 million viewers that watched Game 7 of the 2014 World Series.

With a talented young team and the comfort of a new stadium with amenities, pictured above, Husker fans will enjoy being part of the experience. Check out the 2015 schedule, which includes regular-season home matches against Kansas, Central Michigan, Brigham Young, North Carolina, Penn State, Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Maryland.

Interestingly, six of the 23 players on the World Cup Championship team played at North Carolina. That's four more than the next most productive NCAA school. Because Barbara Hibner Stadium has lights, Nebraska will play five Friday night games and one Monday night game, plus two Sunday afternoon contests.  

For fans, getting into Nebraska soccer on the ground floor of a new era is a wise way to embrace a burgeoning sport. Your best bet is a season ticket that costs just $33 for adults and $17 for youth. In my opinion, that just might be the best Husker value you’ll find anywhere.    

Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)

Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider

Randy’s N-Sider Column Archive

Nebraska Soccer and Tennis Complex at a Glance

Location/Parking

Entrance from North 14th St. (will then turn into Antelope Valley Pkwy.)

Street Address: Nebraska Soccer and Tennis Complex: 2400 North Antelope Parkway

Main fan entrance off of southeast main lot

600+ on-site stalls

Handicap and service parking along the west side

General admission parking at southeast corner

Overflow parking on east side (beyond trees)

Facilities

1,800 seats + standing room only + additional berm seating (approx. 2,500 total)

Walking mall behind north goal

Direct access to stadium seating

1,800 sq. ft. media press box

Full service training room

Elevated viewing deck on second level of main building

Tennis

12 outdoor courts, 6 indoor

Locker rooms on main floor, offices on level 2

Pathways underneath outdoor deck for players/coaches

Soccer

Grass field

Covered shelters over team benches + luxury club seating east edge of field

Player & opponent locker rooms

Coaches’ office

Fan Amenities

1,600 sq. ft. kids zone at southwest corner

Playground and miniature soccer field to be added late Aug./early Sept.

Concessions located inside main lobby behind north goal

Also accessible from outside window