Huskers Open Big Ten Play with MSU, Michigan

Michigan State at Nebraska
Friday, Sept. 16 • 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Lincoln, Neb. • Hibner Stadium
Live Stats: Huskers.com
First 1,000 fans will receive Valentino’s Thundersticks

Michigan at Nebraska
Sunday, Sept. 18 • 1:05 p.m. (CT)
Lincoln, Neb. • Hibner Stadium
Video Stream: BTN Plus
Live Stats: Huskers.com

The Nebraska soccer team (6-2-0) begins conference play this weekend by hosting Michigan State and Michigan at Barbara Hibner Stadium. The Huskers square off against the Spartans on Friday at 7:05 p.m. (CT). On Sunday, NU faces the Wolverines at 1:05 p.m. (CT) in a match that will be streamed on BTN Plus.

Last Time Out: The Huskers split their final pair of non-conference games. NU downed Dayton at home on Friday, Sept. 9 by a 3-1 margin before falling to 13th-ranked Clemson, 5-2, on the road on Sunday, Sept. 11.

Up Next: The Huskers travel to Ohio State and Penn State next weekend. Nebraska faces the Buckeyes on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. (CT) before battling the Nittany Lions on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. (CT).

Scouting the Michigan State Spartans

• Record: 3-3-1 (0-0-0 Big Ten)

            • Wins (3): Baylor (1-0), Colorado (2-1), Detroit (2-0)

            • Losses (3): Virginia (0-3), Central Michigan (1-2), Oregon State (1-2)

            • Ties (1): Niagara (0-0)

• Impact Players

            • Jamie Cheslik: Two goals and two assists in seven games

            • Marisa Oleksiak: Three goals and one assist in seven games

            • Hannah Jones: One goal and one assist in seven games

            • Kaitlyn Collins: 46 saves and eight goals allowed in seven games

• Coached by Tom Saxton (26th season)

            • Career Record/Record at Michigan State: 250-204-50

• Assistant Coaches: Tammy Farnum, Stacy DeLonge

Scouting the Michigan Wolverines

• Record: 4-1-1 (0-0-0 Big Ten)

            • Wins (4): Marshall (4-1), #12 Notre Dame (2-0), Ole Miss (2-0), UC Riverside (4-0)

            • Losses (1): Marquette (1-2)

            • Ties (1): Pittsburgh (2-2)

            • Faces Iowa on Friday night before Sunday’s game against Nebraska

• Impact Players

            • Ani Sarkisian: Four goals and three assists in six games

            • Reilly Martin: Three goals and four assists in six games

            • Abby Kastroll: Two goals and three assists in six games

            • Sarah Jackson: 18 saves and three goals allowed in five games

• Coached by Greg Ryan (Ninth season at Michigan; 24th season overall)

            • Record at Michigan: 91-54-26

            • Career Record: 276-135-44

• Assistant Coaches: Dean Duerst, Tiffany Hansen

About the Huskers

Quick Notes

• Nebraska’s 6-2-0 record is its best eight-game start since 2010, when the Huskers began the season with an identical mark.

• Nebraska is receiving votes in the NSCAA poll (Sept. 13) for the second consecutive week. NU earned one point, which is equivalent to the No. 41 ranking.

• The Huskers have won six of eight games despite being outshot by a combined total of 93-76, including a 44-36 deficit in shots on goal.

• Haley Hanson and Jaycie Johnson are tied for the team lead in goals scored with three apiece. Johnson, who has two assists this season, leads the team in points with eight.

• The Miramontez sisters, Sydney and Sinclaire, have each started all eight games. Sydney, a senior, is averaging 93 minutes per game. Sinclaire, a freshman, is averaging 92 minutes per game.

• Brenna Ochoa was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 6 after scoring the game-winning goal against Kansas in double overtime on Sept. 2.

• Nebraska captured its 300th win in program history on Aug. 22, which marked the same milestone for Head Coach John Walker.

Individual Milestones and Records to Watch

• Jaycie Johnson has 34 career goals, which ranks 10th in program history. She is one goal shy of a tie for eighth.

• Johnson has 12 career game-winning goals, which ranks fifth in program history. She is two game-winning goals away from a tie for fourth.

• Johnson has eight career multiple-goal games, which ranks eighth in program history. She is one multiple-goal game away from a tie for seventh.

Senior Quartet Showing the Way

• Seniors Jaycie Johnson, Caroline Flynn, Sydney Miramontez and Courtney Claassen have each started all eight games this season.

• Johnson, who is back from a season-ending ACL tear last year, has three goals and two assists this season.

• Miramontez has one goal and three assists this season.

• Flynn has one goal this season.

• Flynn, Johnson and Miramontez each earned a spot on the Big Ten Preseason Honors List, released on Aug. 15.

Newcomers Making an Impact

• Three true freshmen have started each of the first eight games: Aubrei Corder, Meg Brandt and Sinclaire Miramontez

• Corder has 34 saves and 10 goals allowed through eight games (750 minutes).

• Brandt has two goals and two assists this season.

• True freshman Brenna Ochoa has also appeared in all eight games, and has two game-winners, both of which she scored in double overtime.

• Newcomers Alexis Rienks (junior transfer from New Mexico State) and Elyse Huber (true freshman from Sioux City, Iowa) have also made multiple appearances.

Huskers Getting TV Exposure

• Thursday, Oct. 6 at Wisconsin (7 p.m.) - Big Ten Network

• Sunday, Oct. 9 at Minnesota (1 p.m.) - Big Ten Network

• BTN will broadcast a wildcard game on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. (Matchup TBD)

• Nebraska will make nine BTN Plus (online streaming) appearances this season (six at home, three on the road).

• BTN will broadcast four games of the Big Ten Tournament (Oct. 30-Nov. 6) at campus sites

• The Huskers have already appeared on TV for three matches (BYUtv, Pac-12 TV) and were on WatchESPN for its Sept. 11 match at Clemson.

Schedule at a Glance

• 19 regular-season games (10 home games in the second season at Hibner Stadium)

• Six of NU’s opponents are ranked in the latest NSCAA poll, released on Sept. 13: BYU (6), Minnesota (10), Clemson (13), Penn State (16), Ohio State (19), Rutgers (22)

• Seven opponents qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season: BYU, Clemson, Penn State, Ohio State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Rutgers

• Two of those teams advanced to the College Cup: Rutgers and eventual NCAA champion Penn State

• Opponents from the Pac-12, Big 12, ACC, Big East, WCC and Atlantic 10