NU Travels to Creighton, Hosts Baylor to Open 2023

After playing a pair of exhibition matches, the Nebraska Soccer team begins its regular season this week on the road against Creighton and at home vs. Baylor.

Thursday’s game is set for 6 p.m. (CT) in Omaha, Neb., at Morrison Stadium and will be streamed on FloSports. Sunday’s game, featuring a Family Fun Day, is slated for 1:05 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required). Fans can purchase tickets to each game by calling 1-800-8 BIG RED or by visiting Huskers.com/tickets.

Last Time Out

In its final exhibition game of the year, the Huskers defeated Oklahoma 2-0 on Friday night at Hibner Stadium in front of 901 fans.

Next Up

NU will travel to west to face Eastern Washington on Thursday, Aug. 24 and Gonzaga on Sunday, Aug. 27.

Kicking Off 

• Seniors Eleanor Dale and Gwen Lane, and junior Sarah Weber received Big Ten Preseason Honors recognition, announced by the conference on Tuesday.
• The Big Ten also released its preseason poll on Tuesday, as voted by the head coaches. Nebraska is picked to finish sixth in the conference.  
• During last week’s tune-up games, the Huskers scored a combined four goals with Weber finding the net twice and Kayma Carpenter scoring against Oklahoma.
• Nebraska continues its tradition of playing a strong schedule in 2023. This year’s slate features five opponents who qualified for the 2022 NCAA Tournament, as Saint Louis and Rutgers lost in the first round, Ohio State advanced to the second round and both Penn State and Northwestern made it to the Sweet 16.
• The Huskers have nine regular-season home games scheduled for their ninth season at Barbara Hibner Stadium in 2023. Additionally, NU will host two exhibitions, four non-conference and five conference matches.
• Nebraska went 7-1-0 during the spring season with shutout victories over Creighton (4-0), Kansas City (2-0), Omaha (1-0), Iowa Western (4-0) and South Dakota (1-0 and 2-0).
• Nebraska returns all four All-Big Ten performers from last season, junior Weber, seniors Reagan Raabe and Dale, and sophomore Lauryn Anglim. Nebraska’s all-time all-conference total increased to 106, including 36 honorees since joining the Big Ten in 2011. Weber became the 51st first-team all-conference selection in program history and seventh first-teamer for Nebraska as a member of the Big Ten.  
• During the off-season, both Dale and Weber were named to their respective national teams as Dale was called up to England’s U23 Squad and Weber made the U.S. U23 Women’s National team.
• Head Coach John Walker enters his 30th season, alongside assistant coaches Savanah Anderson-Baer (first season), Ian Bridge (eighth season) and Marty Everding (26th season).

Scouting the Creighton Bluejays

• In its first and only exhibition match of the season, Creighton defeated Omaha, 2-1, on Friday, Aug. 11 in Omaha. 
• Last season, the Bluejays went 8-4-8 and finished fourth in the Big East with a 4-3-3 record.
• The Huskers lead the all-time series between the teams, 4-3-1. NU has won the last three matchups and most recently defeated the Bluejays at home 1-0 in 2005.
• After facing Nebraska, CU will stay home to face Missouri on Sunday.
• Head Coach Ross Paule is 56-64-19 in his ninth season. He is assisted by Lisa-Marie Woods, Daniella Pappas and Emma Paule.
• Players to Watch
  • #8 Lara Kazandjian (Senior MF): 2022 All-Big East First Team, lead Creighton with nine points on a team-high four goals and one assist
  • #9 Hannah Luke (Senior D): Started all 20 games last season and recorded three goals and three assists
  •  #1 Keelan Terrell (Graduate GK): Started 17 matches in goal, leading the team with 48 saves while posting a 0.99 goals against average and five shutouts

Scouting the Baylor Bears

• Baylor defeated Oklahoma (3-2) and Tarleton (4-0) in its two exhibition matches to begin the season.
• The Bears were 4-11-2 last season and finished ninth in the Big 12 with a 2-7 record. 
• NU holds the 13-8-3 all-time advantage against Baylor having won the most recent meeting between the teams in 2021, 2-1.
• Head Coach Michelle Lenard is in her second season at Baylor with a 4-11-2 record. Prior to Baylor, Lenard was the head coach at Dallas Baptist for 14 years. Lenard is assisted by Lea Sedwich Caffey, Cole Ouren and Cameron Carter.
• Players to Watch
  •  #17 Ashley Merrill (Senior MF): Team-high 10 points in 2022 (four goals and two assists)
  • #8 Reneta Vargas (Sophomore F): Tallied five goals and eight shots last season
  • #00 Makinzie Short (Graduate GK): Nebraska/Oklahoma transfer; split time in goal for Baylor’s combined shutout last weekend against Tarleton