Cyclone Rally Falls Short Against Nebraska

AMES, Iowa-- After falling behind, 3-0, in the first half, the Iowa State soccer team scored two unanswered goals and was in line for a third, but the rally fell short as ISU fell to Nebraska, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at the ISU Soccer Complex. With the loss, the Cyclones fall to 3-7 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12, while Nebraska improves to 8-3 overall and 2-0 in league play. The Cornhuskers are now 9-0 all-time against the Cyclones.

Nebraska took a 1-0 lead in the second minute when reigning Big 12 Player of the Week Brittany Timko scored the first of her three goals on the day. She took the ball at midfield and drove past the ISU defenders at the top of the box and shot in the ball just to the left of ISU goaltender Jo Haig.

Timko added another goal just 16 seconds later when she took the pass from Vern Fitzgerald and shot it in from 10 yards out. Timko collected a hat trick in the 27th minute when she found the net from point-blank range with the help of teammate Sari Raber.

The Cornhuskers outplayed the Cyclones in the first half, outshooting them, 9-1 and recording six corner kicks to ISU's one.

"The way we played the first half is not Iowa State Soccer," head coach Rebecca Hornbacher said. "I told the kids that we can't sit back on our heels and wonder what's going to come at us. We have to play to win and instead of playing not to lose."

Iowa State took charge in the second half and got on the scoreboard at the 12:24 mark on a goal by sophomore Kate Kirwan off an assist from junior Kristina Baumann. Baumann found Kirwan off the left side and Kirwan nailed the shot past NU goaltender Katie Wright. It was Kirwan's second goal of the season.

The Cyclones added another goal with 3:08 remaining in the contest when freshman Brittanie Waddell scored off an assist from freshman Erin Witte and Kirwan. After Waddell took the assist, she went one-on-one with a Nebraska defender and beat Wright for the score.

Looking to tie the game in the remaining minutes, ISU was awarded a penalty kick with 2:08 remaining, but Deb Benakis' try bounced off the crossbar to end ISU's rally and seal the 3-2 win for Nebraska.

"I thought we dominated Nebraska in the second half," Hornbacher said. "We won the second half, but now we need to win the whole game. The girls played together in the front in the second half and they had some great one-on-one opportunities. We came up with some nice goals and had a great chance to finish it up with two minutes to go. We have to do that for 90 minutes now and not just wait for the second half."

The Cyclones outshot the Cornhuskers, 12-4 in the second half and had three corner kicks to NU's one. Waddell led the way with three shots on goal and a goal, while Kirwan scored a goal and added an assist.

The Cyclones will continue their six-game homestand next weekend when they play host to Baylor on Friday night at the ISU Soccer Complex. Game time is 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Kristina Baumann

Kristina Baumann

Deb Benakis

Deb Benakis

Kate Kirwan

Kate Kirwan

Brittanie Waddell

Erin Witte

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