Huskers Fall in Big Ten Home Opene
Lincoln - The Nebraska soccer team (4-5-1, 1-1-0 Big Ten) played to double overtime for its second straight game on Friday night, and was unable to come away with a victory in its Big Ten home opener. With the game tied at 1-1, the Purdue Boilermakers (6-3-1, 1-1-0 Big Ten) got a goal from Taylor Niewoit just 58 seconds into the second overtime period to secure a 2-1 win.
Nebraska held a 15-10 advantage in shots on the night, including 10 on goal, but was only able to get one ball past Purdue goalie Clara Kridler. Purdue posted two more corner kicks than the Huskers, 5-3, with one of the five corner kicks proving to be the difference, as Niewoit's game-winning header came off a corner kick from Jordan Frick.
The Huskers struck first in the game when Mayme Conroy put in her team-leading fifth goal of the season. Following a corner kick from Caroline Gray, both Ari Romero and Jaylyn Odermann headed the ball, before Conroy struck the back of the net to put NU up 1-0 at the 24:25 mark.
Nebraska continued to hold the lead until 50:31 when Alex Hairston scored an unassisted goal for her third of the season. Hairston took the ball at midfield and split NU's defense to setup a 1-vs.-1 situation with NU goalie Emma Stevens. Hairston was able to get close enough to pull Stevens one way and then fired the other way to tie the game at 1-1.
The two squads then went scoreless over the next 40 minutes to force overtime. Nebraska got off two shots in the first overtime period and held Purdue at bay, but was unable to find the net, forcing a second overtime, where Purdue capitalized.
The Huskers get back on the field on Sunday when they host the Indiana Hoosiers for a 1 p.m. game at the Nebraska Soccer Field. It is a Pepsi Pack the House game on campus, which means tickets are $1 and Pepsi products are $1. The game will also be streamed live on BTN.com.
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