Soccer Shuts Out Nebraska, 1-0

NORMAN, Okla. University of Oklahoma junior Becky Nelson led the Sooners' soccer team to an important 1-0 victory over Nebraska on Sunday at John Crain Field. The win keeps OU in contention to qualify for the upcoming Big 12 Tournament. The Sooners improved to 7-7-3 overall and 3-6-0 in Big 12 action while Nebraska fell to 12-6 overall and 6-3 in the Big 12.

“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Oklahoma head coach Randy Evans following the game. “Our players that were banged up with injuries (defenders Erin Young and Lauren Harris) played some solid minutes and that was a fantastic boost for this team. In addition, Becky Nelson really came through for us and had a great game.”

Box score | Season Statistics

Nelson scored her fourth goal of the season in the 19th minute off an assist from senior Samantha Faulkner. The breakaway goal gave the Sooners the early lead and solid defense combined with the Sooners' time of possession closed out the game. The Sooners are 7-2-2 this season when posting a game's first score.

OU senior Catherine Wade put together an impressive performance in the Sooners' goal, recording five saves for her third shutout of the season. Wade, OU's all-time leader in shutouts, has blanked 18 opponents in her collegiate career. She made her biggest save of the day on a Nebraska corner kick that found Sasha Andrews in the box for a header. The shot headed toward the upper left side of the goal but Wade made a miraculous save in the 27th minute to keep the Sooners ahead in the contest.

Wade was not the only Sooner making saves in the game. Freshman Harris stopped a ball on the goal line seven minutes later on another shot by a Cornhusker that appeared to be headed to the back of the net, but was stopped just short of tying the game. OU trailed Nebraska in shots (18-13), corner kicks (6-0) and saves (7-6) but led in the one statistic that matters most -- goals scored. Nelson and sophomore Savannah Scott led OU in shots with four each (five of the pair's eight shots were on goal).

The win over Nebraska is just the second for OU in nine all-time meetings with the Cornhuskers. Nebraska had won three straight over OU prior to today. The Sooners' other victory against the Cornhuskers took place on Oct. 15, 2000, when they defeated then-No. 2 Nebraska (2-1) in Lincoln.

OU entered the day in 10th place in the conference standings and were battling for the eighth and final spot with Oklahoma State and Baylor. The top eight teams based on conference record (a win counts as three points and a tie results in a point for each team) advance to the Big 12 Tournament in San Antonio, Texas.

The Sooners needed a win today over Nebraska combined with losses by Baylor and Oklahoma State to keep their season alive. Everything seemed to go in OU's favor as the Sooners handed Nebraska its first road loss of the season and third shutout of the year (OU became the first non-top-15 team to shut out Nebraska this season. In addition, Oklahoma State lost to Colorado, 1-0, in Stillwater and Baylor lost at home to Missouri, 3-2.

Today's results increases the interest in Friday's season finale when OU (3-6-0 Big 12) hosts Oklahoma State (3-5-1 Big 12) on Oct. 29 at John Crain Field at 7 p.m. The winner of the annual Bedlam Series game will advance to the conference tournament. If a tie occurs, OSU will advance with 11 points over OU's 10 points. This marks the third time in the last four years that the Bedlam game will decide a spot in the annual conference tournament. OU ended OSU's postseason chances in 2001 and advanced as the sixth seed with a 2-1 overtime triumph in Norman. In 2002, OSU was down 2-0 before it rallied for a 3-2 victory in Stillwater, ending the Sooners' postseason chances. Both teams advanced to last year's conference tournament with Oklahoma (No. 6 seed) dropping out in the first round and OSU (No. 7 seed) winning the event.

“This puts an interesting twist on an already heated rivalry and the emotions are going to be high,” said Evans. “Seven of the eight all-time meetings in the series have been decided by one goal, so Friday should be an exciting atmosphere.”

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