University Southern California Trojans
No. 12 Nebraska Defeats Women's Soccer, 2-0
June 21, 1999 | Women's Soccer
September 20, 1998
LOS ANGELES - The No. 12 Nebraska women's soccer team defeated USC, 2-0, in the final game of the Fila Challenge at the Coliseum on Sunday.
In the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, UCLA defeated Baylor, 1-0. In Friday's games at Spaulding Field, USC defeated Baylor, 1-0, and UCLA beat Nebraska, 5-1.
The Women of Troy (3-3) actually outshot the Cornhuskers (3-2), 11-10, but weren't able to put away their chances.
Nebraska senior forward Kim Engesser, who led the nation in goals in 1997, scored in the 14th minute when a USC defender's pass went right to her, and she blasted it in from 20 yards out.
The Cornhuskers got their second goal in the 65th minute after a series of nice passes. Senior midfielder Becky Hogan passed the ball up the right side to freshman forward Kelly Rheem, who centered it for sophomore forward Lauren Tatum. Tatum kicked it in for a 2-0 lead.
Nebraska freshman Meghan Anderson, usually a midfielder but an emergency starter as goalie, earned the shutout and made five saves. The Cornhuskers' regular goalkeeper is injured and her backup picked up a red card in Friday's match against UCLA.
USC's best chance for a goal came in the 73rd minute. Senior forward Courtney Barham chased a long pass up the left side and Anderson came out to try and get the ball. Barham beat her to the ball, but her hurried shot toward an open net from about 35 yards out rolled wide.
"This was a winnable game, but give credit to Nebraska because they played harder than we did," USC Coach Jim Millinder said. "Our players need to learn to want it as badly as Nebraska's players did today."
The Women of Troy play their third ranked team in five days when they host No. 9 BYU on Tuesday (Sept. 22) at the Coliseum at 3 p.m.
NEB 1-1---2
USC 0-0---0
Scoring: Engesser, NEB, 14:00; Tatum (Rheem, Hogan), NEB, 65:00.
Shots: USC 11, NEB 10 Saves: USC 4, NEB 5 Offsides: USC 1, NEB 2
Fouls: USC 9, NEB 11 Corners: USC 2, NEB 7 Att: 570
