Huskers Host Tigers, Visit Wildcats

The Nebraska soccer team continues its regular season this week as it hosts Missouri on Thursday, Aug. 31 and faces Kansas State on the road, Sunday, Sept. 3.

Thursday’s game is set for 7:05 p.m. (CT) at Hibner Stadium and will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required). Fans can purchase tickets to the game by calling 1-800-8 BIG RED or by visiting Huskers.com/tickets. Sunday’s game is slated for 8 p.m. (CT) in Manhattan, Kan., and will be streamed on ESPN+.

Last Time Out

Senior forward Eleanor Dale scored twice in the first half as the Nebraska (3-0-1) soccer team topped Gonzaga 3-1 at Luger Field on Sunday.

Next Up

The Huskers return home to host UC Davis on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7:05 p.m. (CT) and Saint Louis on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1:05 p.m. (CT).

Kicking Off

• Dale, a preseason conference player to watch, leads the team with 10 points, including four goals and 20 shots, in four games of play.
• In the goal, senior Sami Hauk has recorded 14 saves and three wins to bring her career total to 14 victories.
• 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.
• Last Thursday, the Huskers’ six goals marked the most finishes the Huskers have tallied in a regular season match since the 2011 victory against Northern Arizona (8-1) and the most goals on the road since the win in 2009 at Kansas (7-4). Additionally, this was the first time since NU’s victory over Missouri in 2021 that the Big Red has netted four or more goals in the second half.
• Thursday’s win over Eastern Washington also marked the 350th win in program history. Head Coach John Walker achieved the same milestone, having been at the helm of the program since its inception in 1994.
• For the first time since 2018, the Huskers are unbeaten in the first four games of the season.
• Nebraska returns all four All-Big Ten performers from last season, junior Sarah 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 Missouri Tigers

• Missouri is 2-0-1 on the year with a recent 2-2 tie at home against Omaha last week.
• The Tigers were picked to finish 11th in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll after being selected 13th in 2022. Missouri welcomed 10 freshman and three transfers this season, including Nicole Icen from Mercer, the 2019 SoCon Player of the Year and All-SoCon First Team.
• Last season, the Tigers finished with a 5-8-4 mark overall and was 2-5-3 in SEC contests. Missouri earned wins over No. 23 Auburn (1-0) and tied No. 21 Mississippi State (0-0).
• The Huskers lead the all-time series against Missouri, 20-3-0. NU has won the last five games in a row and most recently, defeated the Tigers on the road in 2021, 5-0.
• Head Coach Stefanie Golan is 14-18-5 in her third season at Missouri. Golan is assisted by Andy Stoots, Kelsey Wys and Taylor Culp.
• Players to Watch:
  • #22 Kylee Simmons (Sophomore F): Three goals and 10 shots on the season
  • #23 Elena Zuchowski (Sophomore MF): One goal, two assists and six shots
  • #1 Kate Phillips (Freshman GK): One combined shutout, five saves and only three goals allowed

Scouting the Kansas State Wildcats

• Kansas State is 2-0-2 this season and enters the week with a 2-0 win over UTSA last week and a 0-0 draw against Creigton on Sunday.
• KSU visits Vanderbilt on Thursday night before facing the Huskers at home on Sunday.
• Last season, Kansas State went 6-10-3 and lost in the first round of the Big 12 Championship to #17 Texas, 0-4.
• Since starting their soccer program in 2016, the Huskers and Wildcats have not met. Sunday’s game will mark the first regular season game between the programs.
• Head Coach Mike Dibbini is 34-74-17 in his eighth season at Kansas State. Dibbini is assisted by Don Trentham, Matt Smith and Kursten Von Klahr.
• Players to Watch:
  • #17 Jo Sees (Freshman F): Two goals, one assists and three shots
  • #25 Jazmin Brown (Sophomore D): Two goals and six shots for four points to start 2023
  • #1 Murphy Sheaff (Sophomore GK): Three consecutive shutouts, 10 shutouts and only one goal allowed