The University of Hartford women’s soccer team fought hard but could not overcome an early deficit, falling 2-0 to Nebraska in the first round of the 2002 Women’s College Cup at the Villanova Soccer Complex.
Hartford finished the season at 14-7-0 while Nebraska improved to 15-5-3. Nebraska will face Yale University in the second round of the tournament on Sunday, November 17 at 1 p.m. Yale advanced to the second round against Villanova in penalty kicks.
Nebraska started out quickly in the opening half, scoring at the 1:07 mark. The Huskers’ Christine Latham finished on a counter-attack that left her one on one with Hartford goalkeeper Heather Hinton (Neshanic Station, NJ). Hinton dove and got a hand on the shot, but the goal gave Nebraska the 1-0 advantage.
After Nebraska’s initial strike, the Hawks controlled the pace the rest of the half. With the majority of play taking place in the Hartford offensive end, the Hawks put four shots on goal in the frame and outshot the Huskers 10-3.
Attack time was more even in the second half, though Hartford squandered its 9-4 edge in shots. The Hawks had two good chances to equalize within a minute span in the 70th minute, with senior Tini Lyng (Kastrup, Denmark) just missing the left post and classmate Katharina Lindner (Kleinostheim, Germany) heading a shot on goal that Nebraska keeper Erin Miller dove and stopped with her fingertips.
Nebraska got its second goal in the 78th minute from Kori Saunders. A frenzy in front of the Hartford goal yielded Saunders a chance that she buried in the right corner of the goal.
1 2 F
Hartford (14-7-0) 0 0 0
Nebraska (15-5-3) 1 1 2
SCORING: NU Christine Latham (Kori Saunders) 1:07;
NU Saunders (unassisted) 77:39.
SHOTS: UH 19; NU 7.
CORNERS: UH 6; NU 2.
SAVES : UH 2 (Heather Hinton); NU 7 (Erin Miller).