Huskers to Face 10 NCAA Tournament Teams in 2019

The Nebraska soccer team announced a challenging 2019 regular-season schedule on Thursday that features games against 10 NCAA Tournament qualifiers from last season, including four that advanced to the Sweet 16 and two that reached the Elite 8.

“The 2019 schedule is both exciting and very challenging,” Head Coach John Walker said. “Over half of the games are against teams that made the 2018 NCAA Tournament including several that advanced deep into the tournament. The non-conference schedule is loaded with nationally prominent programs and this should prepare us well for the difficult Big Ten season ahead. I believe our players enjoy playing this type of nationally competitive schedule and it will definitely improve us a team and each player individually. It will also be exciting for the fans as each home game will be of a very high level.”

Before the start of the regular season, the Huskers host Omaha for an exhibition match on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Hibner Stadium before visiting NCAA Tournament qualifier Arkansas for an exhibition match on Thursday, Aug. 15. Each of the first five games of the regular season are against 2018 NCAA Tournament participants.

Nebraska kicks off its 2019 campaign at Kansas on Thursday, Aug. 22. It will mark the fourth time in the last five years that the former conference foes will meet on the pitch. Last season, the Jayhawks made the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The following weekend, NU opens its fifth season at Hibner Stadium with the first of nine scheduled home games for the Big Red in 2019. During each of the first four years at Hibner Stadium, the Huskers have welcomed an average of more than 1,000 fans per home game. NU has ranked in the top 25 nationally and in the top two of the Big Ten in average attendance during all four years at the venue.

The home opener is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 30 against NCAA Tournament qualifier Clemson. On Sunday, Sept. 1, the Huskers host 2018 Big 12 regular-season champion and Elite Eight participant Baylor at Hibner Stadium.

Nebraska journeys to the West Coast the following weekend to face a pair of NCAA Tournament qualifiers. The Huskers visit reigning Big West regular-season and tournament champion Long Beach State on Friday, Sept. 6. Two days later, NU battles USC, a team which advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2018 tourney.

The Huskers close their non-conference slate at home with games against Oklahoma (Sept. 13) and Gonzaga (Sept. 15).

During Big Ten play, five of Nebraska’s 11 conference opponents qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season. Each of the Huskers’ last four games of the regular season will be against teams that made the 2018 tourney.

Nebraska opens the conference slate on the road against Purdue (Sept. 20) and Indiana (Sept. 22). NU returns to Hibner the following weekend to host NCAA Tournament qualifier Northwestern on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Illinois on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Nebraska begins October on the road, visiting Iowa (Oct. 3) and Michigan (Oct. 6) before hosting Maryland (Oct. 11) and Rutgers (Oct. 13). The Scarlet Knights finished second in the Big Ten last season en route to a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The last road trip of the regular season includes matches at Minnesota (Oct. 17) and Wisconsin (Oct. 20). Last season, the Golden Gophers captured the Big Ten Tournament title before making the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers tied for third in the regular-season standings before advancing to the Sweet 16.

Nebraska’s regular-season finale is set for Sunday, Oct. 27 against Penn State at Hibner Stadium. The Nittany Lions won the 2018 Big Ten regular-season crown before making the Elite Eight.

The 2019 Big Ten Tournament begins with the quarterfinal round on Nov. 3 on the campuses of the top four teams in the final regular-season standings. The semifinals are set for Nov. 8 and the final is scheduled for Nov. 10.

2019 Nebraska Soccer Schedule
Saturday, Aug. 10: Omaha (Exhibition)
Thursday, Aug. 15: at Arkansas (Exhibition)
Thursday, Aug. 22: at Kansas
Friday, Aug. 30: Clemson
Sunday, Sept. 1: Baylor
Friday, Sept. 6: at Long Beach State
Sunday, Sept. 8: at USC
Friday, Sept. 13: Oklahoma
Sunday, Sept. 15: Gonzaga
Friday, Sept. 20: at Purdue *
Sunday, Sept. 22: at Indiana *
Thursday, Sept. 26: Northwestern *
Sunday, Sept. 29: Illinois *
Thursday, Oct. 3: at Iowa *
Sunday, Oct. 6: at Michigan *
Friday, Oct. 11: Maryland *
Sunday, Oct. 13: Rutgers *
Thursday, Oct. 17: at Minnesota *
Sunday, Oct. 20: at Wisconsin *
Sunday, Oct. 27: Penn State *