Huskers Meet Coyotes, Bison in a Pair of Exhibition Matches

South Dakota (0-0) at Nebraska (0-0)
Wednesday, August 11  ·  7:05 p.m. CT
Barbara Hibner Stadium
Lincoln, Neb.
 
North Dakota State (0-0) at Nebraska (0-0)
Friday, August 13  ·  7:05 p.m. CT
Barbara Hibner Stadium
Lincoln, Neb.

The Nebraska soccer team hosts the South Dakota Coyotes on Wednesday and the North Dakota State Bison on Friday, with both exhibition matches starting at 7:05 p.m. (CT) at Barbara Hibner Stadium. Admission is free and seating is general admission for the exhibition contests. Fans can also follow the action via BTN+, Twitter (@NebraskaSoccer) or via live stats on Huskers.com.
 
Next Up
 
Following this week’s games, the Huskers will stay home and kick off the 2021 regular season action on Aug. 19 against Western Illinois. 
 
Kicking Off

• The Big Red 2021 roster includes 11 seniors, four juniors, a redshirt sophomore, eight sophomores, and 11 freshmen. Five hometown Huskers join the roster this season while 10 total hail from Nebraska. The roster features players from 10 states and three countries.
• Nebraska returns 18 letterwinners to the roster this season from the 2020-21 campaign. Among those returners are seniors Theresa Pujado and Grace Brown, who saw action in every game for the Huskers. 
• NU will host 10 regular-season games in the seventh year of Hibner Stadium, after hosting six conference matches in an abbreviated 2020 season. Additionally, this year’s slate features eight non-conference and 10 conference games. 
• Four of Nebraska’s 2021 opponents qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season: Loyola Chicago, Arizona State, Rutgers and Iowa.
• Nebraska returns two Big Ten Player of the Week honorees from last season, junior Makinzie Short and sophomore Gwen Lane. Short, a recipient of the Goalkeeper of the Week accolade, completed the 2020-21 season with 32 saves as the starting goalkeeper and earned four shutouts. Lane, a starter in every game last season, merited Freshman of the Week honors after she scored the Huskers’ game-winning goal against the Iowa Hawkeyes to close the regular season. 
• The Huskers went 2-5-3 last season with a 2-1 win over Purdue (4-6-2) and a 1-0 regular season finale defeat of 2020-21 Big Ten Tournament Champion, Iowa (7-9-1).
• Head Coach John Walker enters his 27th season, alongside assistant coaches Ian Bridge (six seasons) and Marty Everding (24 seasons) and first-year volunteer assistant, Samantha Areman.   

Scouting the South Dakota Coyotes

• South Dakota finished the 2020-21 season 9-7-1 with a 9-6-1 record in conference matches. 
• The Coyotes achieved several records last season as they tied the most wins in a season, achieved the longest win streak of their Division 1 era and clinched their second-ever spot in the Summit League Tournament. 
• In the all-time series, Nebraska owns a 2-0-0 edge over South Dakota. The Huskers last faced the Coyotes at home in 2017 resulting in a 3-0 win, with three Huskers each scoring their first career goals. 
• Head Coach Michael Thomas is 26-2-5 in his 4th season at South Dakota. He holds a career head coaching record of 116-48-17 in nine seasons. Thomas is assisted by Maddie Gaffney, Maggie Sherman and Graduate Assistant Amanda Carpio.
• Players to Watch

  • #3 Alexis Mitchell (Senior M): 2020-21 First Team All-Summit member. Recorded seven goals on the season, fifth most in the conference. 
  • #4 Taylor Cotter (Senior F): 2020-21 Second Team All-Summit selection. Finished last season with eight assists, two goals and 12 points. 
  • #9 Taylor Ravelo (Sophomore D): Played in all 16 games last season, while starting in 13. Ranked third on the team with five goals and had eight of her 13 shots on goal.

Scouting the North Dakota State Bison

• Last season, North Dakota State went 7-8-1 and finished fifth in the Summit League. The Bison ended the season with a 6-3-1 record at home.
• Nebraska leads the all-time series, 1-0-0, dating back to the first meeting with North Dakota State in 2008, which resulted in a 3-0 win for the Huskers. 
• After facing Nebraska, the Bison will return home for a pair of non-conference games against Idaho and Baylor. 
• Head Coach Mike Regan is 24-22-4 in his fourth season at North Dakota State. The Bison have had five All-Summit League selections in his first three years, including four first team selections. Regan is assisted by Josh Purdum and Allison Mack. 
• Players to Watch

  • #24 Ellie Schneider (Senior D): Started all 16 matches, scoring two goals and placing third on the team with seven points on the season.
  • #25 Olivia Lovick (Sophomore F/M): Appeared in all 16 matches and led the Bison in points with 14 and in goals with six.
  • #23 Jess Hanley (Sophomore D/M): Started in 14 matches and tied for the team lead with five assists. Finished the season second on the team with nine points.