Huskers Welcome No. 19 Rutgers, No. 9 Penn State

Nebraska vs. #19 Rutgers
Thursday, March 25 • 1:05 p.m. (CT)
Hibner Stadium
Lincoln, Neb.
 
» TV: BTN+
» Live Stats: Huskers.com
» Twitter Updates: @NebraskaSoccer
 
Nebraska vs. #9 Penn State
Sunday, March 28 • 11:35 a.m. (CT)
Hibner Stadium
Lincoln, Neb.
 
» TV: BTN+
» Live Stats: Huskers.com
» Twitter Updates: @NebraskaSoccer

The Nebraska women’s soccer team kicks off the final stretch of the regular-season schedule at home this week, hosting No. 19 Rutgers on Thursday, March 25 and No. 9 Penn State on Sunday, March 28. Thursday’s game against the Scarlet Knights kicks off at 1:05 p.m. (CT) and Sunday’s match against the Nittany Lions kicks off at 11:35 a.m. (CT). Both matches will be streamed on BTN+.

Last Time Out

Nebraska closed its regular-season road slate at Northwestern on Sunday, March 21. The Huskers dropped a 0-4 decision to the Wildcats in Evanston, Ill. 

Next Up

Following this week’s games, Nebraska hosts its final scheduled regular-season match against Iowa on Saturday, April 3. The game will kick off at 1:05 p.m. (CT) and be streamed on BTN+. 

Kicking Off

• Four of Nebraska’s five goals this season were scored by players who have previously not scored in a Nebraska uniform. Freshmen Eleanor Dale, who scored twice against Purdue, and Reagan Raabe, who scored the first goal against Michigan, netted Nebraska’s first three goals of the season. Sophomore Marissa Popoola scored her first career goal off a corner in the game against the Wolverines. Dakota Chan added her first of the season and third of her career against Illinois. 
• Goalkeeper Makinzie Short made six saves in the Huskers’ game against Illinois, a career-high mark for the sophomore. She has led the Huskers to two clean sheets on the year. The Erie, Colo. native has made 17 saves for the Huskers this season. 
• Grace Brown and Makinzie Short are two of 21 players who have seen action for the Huskers this season that have played every minute. 
• Nebraska meets its first ranked opponents of the season this weekend as Rutgers is tabbed No. 19 and Penn State is ranked No. 9 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll. The Huskers are 46-81-14 all-time against ranked teams. 
• Nebraska closes its regular-season schedule at home starting with the two contests this week. The team is 1-1-1 at Hibner Stadium this season and 24-16-11 in its six years on the field. 
• Entering this week’s action, the Huskers sit in 11th place in the conference. 
• With the tie against Wisconsin, Nebraska has recorded two shutouts on the year. Nebraska has recorded a shutout in every season since the program began in 1994. 

Scouting the Scarlet Knights 

• Rutgers is 6-1-1 this season, earning wins over Penn State, Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa and Minnesota. 
• In their last game, the Scarlet Knights earned a 1-0 decision over Minnesota to claim their third clean sheet of the year. Julianne Leskauskas scored the lone goal for Rutgers in the 47th minute to take the match. 
• The Scarlet Knights backline has held opponents to single shots in five of seven games on the year while not allowing any teams more than single-digit shots on goal.
• Amirah Ali leads the team with five goals on the year. Seven Scarlet Knights have added goals for the team. 
• Rutgers is tabbed to finish fourth in the conference after tying for second in the conference in 2019 and making it to the first round of the NCAA tournament. 
• In the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, the Scarlet Knights are ranked No. 19. The team has been ranked in each of this season’s polls.
• Head coach Mike O’Neill is 82-26-23 at the helm of the Scarlet Knights and is in his seventh year at Rutgers. He is assisted by Meghan Ryan Nemzer, Lubos Ancin and Madison Tiernan. 
• 2020-21 Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch: 

  • #17 Amirah Ali (Senior F): Four-year starter for Rutgers. Leads the team in scoring this season. Two-time All-American and 2019 First Team All-Big Ten
  • #15 Nneka Moneme (Senior F): Scored a goal in the team’s win over Michigan State. Lead the team in scoring in 2019 with 11 goals. 2019 Second Team All-Big Ten. 
  • #1 Meagan McClelland (Junior GK): Played in every game for her career at Rutgers. Has recorded three shutouts on the year with 23 saves on 29 opponent shots on goal. Second in the conference with a goals against average of .726. 

Scouting the Nittany Lions

• Penn State is 6-1-1 this season, including wins over Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota and Michigan. 
• The team will meet Iowa on Thursday before meeting the Huskers in Lincoln on Sunday. 
• Sam Coffey and Ally Schlegel lead the Penn State scoring effort with six goals a piece. 
• In the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, the Nittany Lions are ranked No. 9. The team has been ranked in each of this season’s polls.
• The Nittany Lions are the favorite to win the Big Ten Conference, according to the preseason coaches’ poll. Last season, the team finished fourth in the conference and made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. 
• Head coach Erica Dambach is 225-74-21 in 14 years a the helm of the Nittany Lions. She is assisted by Ann Cook, Tim Wassell and Jack Rushworth. 
• 2020-21 Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch: 

  • #2 Kerry Abello (Senior F): Assisted the teams’ first goal of the season against Rutgers. Has started every game this season for Penn State. 
  • #17 Sam Coffey (Senior M): Tied with a team-high and conference-high six goals on the season and leads the team and conference with six assists on the year. 
  • #19 Frankie Tagliaferri (Senior M):  Has scored three goals this year. Third in the conference with four assists this year.