Game 4: Nebraska (0-3) at Saint Louis (2-0)
Date: Friday, Sept. 5
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Robert Hermann Stadium, St. Louis, Mo.
Free Live Stats: Slubillikens.com
Subscription Video/Audio: Slubillikens.com

Game 5: Nebraska (0-3) vs. UAB (0-3)
Date: Sunday, Sept. 7
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Nebraska Soccer Field, Lincoln, Neb.
Free Live Stats: Huskers.com
Free Live Video/Audio: Huskers.com

Lincoln - For the second consecutive weekend, the Nebraska women’s soccer team will have both a home and away contest over the weekend. The Huskers square off against Saint Louis in the Toys for Tots Tournament on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in St. Louis and return to Lincoln for a home match against UAB on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

The early season travels have not been kind to the Huskers. Nebraska (0-3) statistically outplayed UC Riverside last Friday in Lincoln, but the Highlanders emerged with the 1-0 victory. NU then made the quick trip to Gainesville, Fla., for a Sunday match in which the 22nd-ranked Gators defeated the Huskers 6-1 in humid and windy conditions. Including this Friday’s matchup with Saint Louis, the Huskers have played three of their first four games on the road.

Live stats and subscription video will be available for NU’s matchup with Saint Louis on Slubillikens.com. Nebraska’s game with UAB will be feature free, live streaming video on Huskers.com and live stats.

Scouting Saint Louis
After having its season opener cancelled because of weather concerns, Saint Louis has picked up two victories to start the fall. The Billikens posted a 2-1 win over Seton Hall and a 2-0 shutout of Army last weekend at the BAE Systems Fall Classic in West Point, N.Y. Saint Louis now carries its undefeated record into the Toys for Tots Tournament. The host Billikens will face Nebraska and Missouri State in the four-team tournament. Fans can get a discounted admission price by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to donate.

Saint Louis is a young squad that features just five seniors on its 34-person roster. Upperclassmen Molly Hartmann and Julia Bradenberg have been early leaders for the Billikens. Hartmann, a senior midfielder, has four points on two goals, while Bradenberg, a junior forward, has three points on a goal and an assist. Both have game-winning scores.

Defensively, freshman Hannah Perry has played well. She has allowed just one goal in 180 minutes of action, and has collected nine saves for a 0.50 goals-allowed average. She collected her first career shutout last Saturday at Army.

The Billikens will be looking to avenge a 5-1 defeat they received last fall in Lincoln from the Huskers. NU scored in the fourth minute and rolled to the victory behind two goals from Julie Berkshire. Nebraska leads the series 1-0.

Scouting UAB
UAB has encountered some hard luck in the season also. The Blazers are 0-3 after surrendering just three goals on the season, but have yet to put a point of their own on the board. UAB suffered 1-0 losses at Clemson and Auburn and opened its home schedule with a 1-0 defeat to South Florida. The Blazers have just two seniors on a squad that returns seven starters from last season.

The Blazers have statistically stayed in every game, racking up 31 shots and allowing 39 and holding a 13-8 advantage in corner kicks. Freshman midfielder Carolyn Polcari has been UAB’s main scoring threat early in the season. She has notched 12 shots, including six on goal, while no other Blazer has more than three total shots. Much like the Huskers, 14 different Blazers have earned a start so far this fall.

UAB’s defense has played well in its three losses. Sophomore goalkeeper Kate Blankenship has allowed just three goals in 270 minutes. She sports a 1.00 goals-allowed average after making 22 saves on the season.

The Blazers face Kansas in Lawrence on Friday. The Huskers hold a 2-0 advantage in the series history with UAB, including a 4-0 win in the two programs’ last meeting on Aug. 28, 2005.

Last time out: Huskers Fall Short Against No. 22 Gators
The Nebraska women’s soccer team suffered a 6-1 loss to No. 22 Florida, its first ranked opponent of the season, in Gainesville, Fla., last Sunday. The Huskers, who made the quick trip after hosting UC Riverside last Friday, fall to 0-3 while the Gators move to 2-1-1.

Florida came out energized, getting on the board in the 17th minute, courtesy of Angela Napolitano. The Huskers responded with a goal of their own in the 24th minute, though. Freshman forward Molly Thomas, making her second career start, collected a blocked Michaella Fulmer shot and found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. The assist gives Fulmer five points on the season, as she leads the Huskers in that category. Thomas earns her first career goal for the Huskers and now has three points in three appearances.

The Gators quickly retook the lead with a goal in the 26th minute by forward Megan Kerns, who added another score in the 40th minute to give UF a 3-1 halftime lead. Napolitano notched a second goal in the second half, while Lindsay Thompson and Tahnai Annis also scored.

Fulmer had three total shots for the Huskers and Thomas, Lindsay Poehling and Colleen Goetzmann all recorded a shot on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Mills made four saves for NU.

Florida collected 14 shots to Nebraska’s 10 and earned a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.

Holy Molly!
Molly Thomas’ assist in her first career appearance against Northwestern on Aug. 22 was good enough to earn her the starting nod, as she made her first career starts last weekend against UC Riverside and Florida. Thomas is quickly showing her promise as a scoring threat, leading the Huskers with six shots, directing four on goal, and an assist last weekend. She also scored Nebraska’s only goal against Florida.

Several Starters
Depth is one of the strengths for Nebraska this season and it has been reflected in the Huskers’ starting lineup for the first three games. In all, 16 different NU players have earned a start this season, as only six Huskers have started all three contests.

Stacking Up Shots
Despite scoring just four goals in three games, the Huskers have plenty of options on the offensive side of the ball. A total of 15 different Huskers have notched a shot on the season, including nine players with a shot on goal. That number will almost certianly eclipse last year’s total of 20 Huskers who recorded a shot.

Once In A Blue Moon
Nebraska gave up six goals to Florida last Sunday, the most it has ever allowed to an opponent, but the number also serves as an example of Nebraska’s consistent play. The Huskers have given up six goals just two other times in their 15-year history, once to Notre Dame in 1997 and to North Carolina in 2003. Both teams advanced to the Women’s College Cup in their respective season. In fact, Nebraska has surrendered more than four goals just four times in 308 games.

Putting up the Points
Nebraska racked up three goals against Northwestern on Aug. 22, including two by sophomore forward Michaella Fulmer. The Huskers notched the scores in a span of 19 minutes to tally their most goals in a regular-season game since a 4-0 win over Lamar on Oct. 12, 2007. It was also NU’s highest point total in a season opener since 2005.

It was also the first time in Nebraska’s 15-year history the Huskers have erased a two-goal second-half deficit on the road, as they came back from down 3-1 to tie the game at 3-3 before falling 4-3.

First on the Field
Several Huskers made their first career appearances on Aug. 22 against Northwestern. Redshirt freshmen Katie Goetzmann, Bri Eilman and Blair Slapper all saw the pitch for the first time in their NU career, while freshman Molly Thomas came off the bench for her first career appearance.

First in the First
For the second consecutive season a Husker freshman scored her first career points in the first game of the season. Forward Alexa Cardona notcher her first career goal, which turned about to the game winner, in a 2-0 NU win over Northwestern to start last season. Fellow forward Molly Thomas scored her first career points with an assist against Northwestern on Aug. 22 in the first game of this season.

Jamani Named to Preseason All-Big 12 Squad
Senior Aysha Jamani was selected to the preseason All-Big 12 soccer team in a vote of the league’s coaches on Aug. 15. Jamani, who earns the honor for a second consecutive season, is a welcome returnee to the 2008 lineup after an injury cut short her 2007 season. The Alberta, Canada, native started Nebraska’s first 10 contests, but a ruptured Achilles tendon brought her season to an abrupt end. A former Big 12 All-Newcomer team member and two-time second-team All-Big 12 selection, Jamani owns 11 career goals and eight assists in 47 starts for the Huskers.