Story by NU Athletic Communications
Nebraska wraps up its five-match away streak as the Huskers (3-4-0, 0-1-0 Big Ten) travel to Michigan to face the #5 Spartans (6-0-2, 1-0-0 Big Ten) on Thursday and the Wolverines (1-6-1, 0-1-0 Big Ten) on Sunday. Action against MSU is set for 5 p.m. (CT) and will air on BTN, while the match against Michigan will be streamed on Big Ten Plus starting at 12 p.m. (CT).
Next Up
The Huskers return home to host Illinois on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7:05 p.m. (CT) on BTN and #9 Penn State on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1:05 p.m. (CT) on Big Ten Plus.
Numbers to Watch
- Sarah Weber, a 2024 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, recorded her second career hat trick against Creighton. It’s the 36th hat trick in school history and second of the 2024 season for Weber.
- Weber is also fourth in school history with 284 total shots, sitting just behind Morgan Marlborough (287) in third, and ninth in shots on goal with 114, nine behind Brittany Timko in eighth. Additionally, Weber currently is second in the country in shots per game, as she is averaging 5.57.
- Florence Belzile is currently ninth all-time in Husker history with 25 career assists, just two shy of Lindsay Eddleman in eighth. Jordan Zade, the team’s assists leader, has four on the season.
Quick Notes
- The Huskers have 10 regular-season home games scheduled for their 10th season at Hibner Stadium in 2024.
- NU returns three of four All-Big Ten performers from last season, seniors Weber, Haley Peterson and Zade. Nebraska’s all-time all-conference total increased to 110, including 38 honorees since joining the Big Ten in 2011.
- 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. To start the 2024 season, NU has averaged 6,417 fans, good for sixth in the country. This season’s match against Creighton garnered 2,382 fans, second-most all-time at Hibner Stadium.
Scouting Michigan State
- Michigan State finished the 2023 season with a 14-5-3 mark overall and 7-1-2 record in conference play. The Spartans fell to Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament but qualified for the NCAA Tournament and made it to the third round.
- The Spartans are undefeated on the season and have five shutouts, with quality wins over Notre Dame and Ole Miss. After hosting Nebraska on Thursday, Michigan State will meet Penn State in University Park, Pa.
- Head Coach Jeff Hosler is in his fourth season at the helm of the Michigan State soccer program. He’s the third coach in program history and holds a 282-80-29 career record and 47-13-11 mark at Michigan State.
- Michigan State leads the all-time series 5-4-2 between the two teams. Most recently, NU fell to the Spartans during the 2022 Big Ten Tournament.
Scouting Michigan
- In the 2023 season, Michigan finished with a 7-7-4 overall record, including a 3-5-2 mark in Big Ten competition. The Wolverines qualified for the NCAA Tournament but fell in the first round to Princeton, 0-1.
- Michigan has opened the 2024 season with a 1-6-1 record. Their lone win was against #24 Alabama, 1-0, and the Wolverines tied Iowa State, 2-2. Michigan faces Minnesota on Thursday night before its matchup against Nebraska on Sunday.
- Head Coach Jennifer Klein is in her seventh season with the Michigan soccer team. The third Michigan head coach, Klein holds a 64-43-16 career mark, good for the highest winning percentage in Michigan program history.
- Michigan leads the all-time series between the programs, 10-2-3, dating back to 1994. Most recently, the Huskers defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2022, 1-0.