Greeley, Colo. - The Husker soccer team began the 2009 season on a strong note Saturday night, defeating Northern Colorado, 3-0, at Jackson Stadium in Greeley, Colo.
It was only the third time in school history that the Huskers have opened the season on the road (4-0 win at Minnesota in 2000; 4-3 loss at Northwestern in 2008), but Nebraska (1-0-0) outshot Northern Colorado (0-1-0) and posted its first shutout since last October.
The Huskers used strong performances from two of its youngsters, as sophomore Molly Thomas recorded a pair of goals, while freshman Morgan Marlborough also scored one goal and added an assist in her Husker debut.
Marlborough accounted for the game-winning score, as she found the net on a rebound just 16 seconds before halftime. Thomas took advantage of a rebound as well, as she made it a 2-0 lead just two minutes later. Thomas added her second goal of the evening with 16 minutes remaining, receiving a pass from Marlborough for the final margin.
Marlborough is coming off a solid preseason in which she was one of Nebraska's most impressive freshmen, while Thomas is building on a strong first season in which she was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team.
Junior transfer Tara Macdonald was superb in the net for NU, playing all 90 minutes at goalkeeper and stopping eight shots for her first shutout as a Husker.
The victory improves head coach John Walker's record to 9-5-2 in season openers. It also wraps up a busy week for Nebraska, as the team has been in the state of Colorado since Monday. The Huskers defeated Colorado College in an exhibition game on Tuesday afternoon before traveling to Greeley for the official start of the 2009 season.
Nebraska will return home Sunday, as fall classes get underway on the UNL campus this week. The Huskers will host the annual Meet-N-Beat the Huskers on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Nebraska Soccer Field begining at 6:30 p.m.
