Aug 29, 2024

Huskers welcome Omaha, Creighton this week

Posted Aug 29, 2024 4:48 PM

Story by NU Athletic Communications

The Nebraska soccer team (1-2-0) is looking to bounce back this week as it welcomes Omaha (2-0-2) on Thursday, Aug 28 and Creighton (1-1-0) on Sunday, Sept. 1. Both matches will be played at Hibner Stadium and streamed on Big Ten Plus, while Thursday’s match is set for 7:05 p.m. (CT) and action on Sunday is slated for 1:05 p.m. (CT). 

Fans can purchase general admission and single match tickets to each game by calling 1-800-8 BIG RED or by visiting Huskers.com/tickets. 

Next Up

The Huskers hit the road for the first time this regular season as they travel to Oregon to face Oregon State on Thursday, Sept. 5 and Portland, Sunday, Sept. 8. 

Numbers to Watch

  1. Sarah Weber, last week’s Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, recorded her first career hat trick on Sunday against Colorado State. It’s the 35th hat trick in school history and the first since Faith Carter accomplished it against Indiana on Sept. 20, 2018. 
  2. Weber is also seventh in school history with 263 total shots, sitting just behind Lindsay Eddleman (265) and Eleanor Dale (267)
  3. Florence Belzile currently sits in 10th all-time with 24 career assists, just one shy of Jenna Cooper and Morgan Marlborough in ninth. 

Quick Notes

  1. The Huskers have 10 regular-season home games scheduled for their 10th season at Hibner Stadium in 2024. 
  2. NU returns three of four All-Big Ten performers from last season, seniors Weber, Haley Peterson and Jordan Zade. Nebraska’s all-time all-conference total increased to 110, including 38 honorees since joining the Big Ten in 2011.
  3. Last season, many Huskers were high in individual standings as Weber tallied 16 total goals, good for fifth in the nation, and midfielder Belzile recorded a team-high 17 assists, which ranked first in the conference and second nationally. Additionally, Belzile’s assists tied for second-most in both conference and Husker history.
  4. During the 2023 season, the Huskers averaged 1,326 fans per game at Hibner Stadium, third most in Husker history and 15th in the nation. NU garnered 2,318 fans in the NCAA Second Round match versus Tennessee, the most fans in attendance since 2015. 

Scouting Omaha

  1. Omaha finished the 2023 season with a 7-5-7 record overall and 3-1-4 mark in conference play. The Mavericks won the opening two rounds of the Summit League Championship, but fell in the finals to SDSU, 1-0.
  2. The Mavericks opened their season with a pair of ties and victories, topping Lindenwood and Southern Utah. 
  3. Head Coach Tim Walters enters his eighth season at the helm of the Omaha soccer program. Walters led Omaha to its second-straight Summit League Championship in 2023, while only dropping one match in conference competition. 
  4. Omaha leads the all-time series 1-0 after the Mavericks topped the Huskers at home in 2021, 1-0. 
  5. Players to Watch
  6. #12 Alyssa Kellar (Redshirt Junior F): Leads the team with two goals to start the season and scored in both of Omaha’s victories.
  7. #1 Mia Reedtz Rehde Olesen (Graduate GK): Has started three games this season, while recording five saves and only allowing one goal. 

Scouting Creighton

  1. Creighton finished the 2023 season with a 4-9-5 record overall and 2-7-1 finish in Big East competition. The Bluejays ended the season with two-straight losses. 
  2. Creighton opened the 2024 season with a 2-1 loss to Minnesota and a 2-1 win over Iowa State. The Bluejays will face Western Michigan on Thursday, Aug. 29 before meeting the Huskers on Sunday.
  3. Head Coach Jimmy Walker is in his first season at the helm of the Creighton soccer program. Prior to his time in Omaha, Walker was the head coach at Bowling Green State, going 36-19-11 and earning a pair of Mid-American Conference titles in the past four years. He owns a career head coaching record of 176-95-26 in 16 seasons as coach at Tiffin, Duquesne, Findlay and Bowling Green State combined. 
  4. Nebraska owns a 4-3-2 advantage all-time against the Bluejays with NU’s last victory coming in 2005 at home, 0-1. Last season, the teams tied 2-2 at Morrison Stadium in Omaha. 
  5. Players to Watch
  6. #7 Azumi Manriki (Senior MF): A 2023 Second Team All-Big East, Manriki has started both matches this season, recording two goals on four shots.
  7. #30 Alyssa Zalac (Junior GK): A transfer from Louisville, she’s started both games this season, tallying seven saves while allowing three finishes. 
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