Lincoln - Following a 4-3
double-overtime win by the Nebraska soccer team last season on the road at then
No. 25 Virginia Tech, the No. 16 ranked Hokies avenged the loss on Friday night
at the Nebraska Soccer Field with a 3-2 overtime victory.
The
Huskers held a 2-1 lead with less than 20 minutes to play in regulation, but
junior Ashley Manning tied the game with her first goal of the season and then
put in the game winner in overtime to complete the Hokies' comeback.
Both
squads played stellar defense in the first half, as each offense got off five
shots, but the score was deadlocked at 0-0 entering halftime.
Anne
Lumpkin opened the scoring at 51:02 when Jazmine Reeves crossed to Lumpkin for
an easy shot from 15 yards right in front of the goal.
After
missing out on some scoring opportunities in the first half, the Huskers
quickly tied the game on Hannah Dittmar's first career goal. Following a
corner kick, freshman Katie Kraeutner blasted a shot at VT goalie Caroline
Kelly, who was only able to block the shot, allowing Dittmar to put in the
rebound and tie the game, 1-1, at the 54:20 mark.
It
was the first goal allowed by the Hokies on the year after they shutout UNC
Wilmington (1-0, 2OT) and Richmond (2-0) to start the season.
The
Huskers then took the lead less than five minutes later when a Virginia Tech
defender mishandled a ball deep in her own territory. Sophomore Mayme Conroy
took advantage of the opportunity and was able to beat Kelly 1-on-1 to put
Nebraska up 2-1 at 56:15.
The
Huskers continued to hold the lead until Manning drove the ball up the center
of the field and scored from 15 yards out in front of the Husker goal. The two
squads then held each other scoreless over the final 20 minutes of regulation
to setup a second straight overtime game in the series.
In
overtime, Manning got an open shot on a cross from Reeves and NU goalie Emma
Stevens was able to partially defect the shot, but it had just enough on it to
roll into the goal and secure victory for Virginia Tech.
The
Huskers will be back at the Nebraska Soccer Field on Sunday when they wrap up
the Husker Classic with a 1 p.m. game against New Mexico and the game will be
streamed live on BTN.com (subscription required). Virginia Tech and Iowa State
will play the early game on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
