Huskers – Page 152 – North Platte Post Archive

Nebraska Offense Able to Count on Ameer Abdullah

Posted on November 11, 2013

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Ameer Abdullah is on pace to deliver one of the greatest seasons by a running back in Nebraska’s history.

Abdullah’s 135 yards per game leads the Big Ten and is sixth nationally. He would be the first Nebraska player since Ahman Green in 1997 to go over 100 yards in seven straight games, though he’ll have to do it this week against Michigan State’s top-ranked rushing defense.

He’s on track to finish the regular season with 1,618 yards — which would be the fifth-most at a school that has a long history of producing some of the college game’s best backs.

Abdullah says he doesn’t pay attention to the statistics. He says he’s more interested in winning.

Huskers Host Southeastern LA in NCAA First Round

Posted on November 11, 2013November 11, 2013

Lincoln – The Nebraska soccer team will battle Southeastern Louisiana in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Women’s Division I Soccer Championships. NU will play host to the Lions this upcoming weekend Nov. 15-17 with exact date and time yet to be announced.

The Scarlet and Cream are the No. 2 seed in their region with Florida State earning the top spot in NU’s bracket. The Big Ten has eight schools in the field of 64.

The Huskers (18-3-1) will make their 11th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2005, which is also the last time NU hosted a national postseason match at the Nebraska Soccer Field. Southeastern Louisiana (14-3-5) won the Southland Conference Tournament title to clinch an automatic berth.

Nebraska is one of only five teams in Division I to have 18 or more wins, which is the most for NU since 2000. The Huskers’ current nine-game win streak is tied for fourth best active streak in the nation. NU boasts the 27th best offense in the country averaging 2.32 goals per match, while allowing just one goal per contest with seven shutouts.

Nebraska captured its first Big Ten Tournament Championship on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Iowa on a penalty kick goal in the 30th minute from freshman Jaycie Johnson, who has amassed a team-best 13 tallies. This marked the fourth time in program history NU has locked up both regular-season and tournament titles in the same season and first since 2000.

Ticket information for the first round of the 2013 NCAA Women’s Division I Soccer Championships will be available on Huskers.com.

Robinson, Pollmiller Honored by Big Ten Conference

Posted on November 11, 2013

Nebraska senior outside hitter Kelsey Robinson and junior setter Mary Pollmiller were honored by the Big Ten Conference on Monday. Robinson was selected as the league’s Player of the Week, while Pollmiller earned Setter of the Week accolades.

Robinson led the Huskers to road wins over Wisconsin (3-1) and Minnesota (3-2) over the weekend. She averaged 4.9 kills, 3.4 digs and 0.6 digs per set. Robinson notched double-doubles against both the Badgers (21 kills, 13 digs) and Gophers (23 kills, 19 digs). She recorded a .330 hitting percentage and added three assists and an ace. The honor marks her third career Big Ten weekly award.

Pollmiller also guided the Huskers to a 2-0 record on the weekend. She paced the Husker offense, averaging 12.3 assists per set. Pollmiller also recorded 50 assists against the Badgers and 61 assists against the Gophers. She totaled 12 digs, six kills and three blocks on the weekend. The accolade marks her third career Big Ten weekly award.

2013 Big Ten Volleyball Players of the Week

Sept. 2 P: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

D: Bethany Yeager, Sr., IOWA

S: Taylor Sherwin, Jr., OSU

F: Maddie Mayers, ILL

Sept. 9 P: Kaitlyn Leary, Sr., OSU

D: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

S: Lexi Dannemiller, Jr., MICH

F: Abby Cole, MICH

Sept. 16 P: Lauren Wicinski, Sr., MSU

D: Faye Adelaja, Fr., PUR

S: Taylor Sherwin, Jr., OSU

F: Amber Rolfzen, NEB

Faye Adelaja, PUR

Sept. 23 P: Stephanie Holthus, Sr., NU

D: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

S: Caleigh Ryan, Fr., NU

F: Caleigh Ryan, NU

Sept. 30 P: Lauren Wicinski, Sr., MSU

D: Ashley Wittman, Sr., MINN

S: Mary Pollmiller, Jr., NEB

F: Haleigh Nelson, WIS

Oct. 7 P: Lauren Wicinski, Sr., MSU

Kelsey Robinson, Sr., NEB

D: Meghan Haggerty, So., NEB

S: Micha Hancock, Jr., PSU

F: Amber Rolfzen, NEB

Oct. 14 P: Katie Slay, Sr., PSU

D: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

S: Micha Hancock, Jr., PSU

F: Caleigh Ryan, NU

Oct. 21 P: Val Nichol, Jr., PUR

D: Annemarie Hickey, Sr., WIS

S: Lexi Dannemiller, Jr., MICH

F: Hannah Tapp, MINN

Oct. 28 P: Ashley Wittman, Sr., MINN

D: KiKi Jones, Jr., PUR

S: Mary Pollmiller, Jr., NEB

F: Kadie Rolfzen, NEB

Nov. 4 P: Kelsey Robinson, Sr., NEB

D: Cecilia Hall, So., NEB

S: Micha Hancock, Jr., PSU

F: Kadie Rolfzen, NEB

Lauren Carlini, WIS

Nov. 11 P: Kelsey Robinson, Sr., NEB

D: Katie Slay, Sr., PSU

S: Mary Pollmiller, Jr., NEB

F: Taylor Sandbothe, OSU

Two Huskers Earn Big Ten Player-of-the-Week Honors

Posted on November 11, 2013

A pair of Nebraska players were honored on Monday for their outstanding efforts in the Huskers’ 17-13 victory at Michigan on Saturday.

Sophomore defensive end Randy Gregory was named co-Defensive Player of the Week, sharing the honor with Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland. Redshirt freshman quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. earned Freshman-of-the-Week honors.

The 6-6, 255-pound Gregory dominated the line of scrimmage against the Wolverines. Gregory recorded four total tackles, including three sacks for 14 yards in losses, including a sack on Michigan’s final offensive possession. Gregory also added a pair of quarterback hurries in the contest.

Gregory’s play paced an outstanding effort by the Blackshirts. Nebraska held Michigan to -21 rushing yards and recorded a season-high seven sacks in the contest. Gregory leads the Big Ten Conference in sacks with 7.5 on the season, including seven sacks in conference games. Nebraska ranks fourth nationally with 3.3 sacks per contest.

Armstrong was honored for leading Nebraska’s victory at Michigan. Armstrong completed 11-of-19 passes in the game, including the game-winning five-yard touchdown pass to Ameer Abdullah with 2:03 to play. Armstrong was at his best on the Huskers’ clinching drive, completing 5-of-7 passes for 59 yards on the drive, while also rushing for seven yards.

Armstrong improved to 5-0 as Nebraska’s starting quarterback, matching Taylor Martinez for the best start to a career by a freshman quarterback.

Armstrong’s honor marked the second straight week Nebraska has won the freshman honor after Jordan Westerkamp was honored for his performance against Northwestern. NU has four total winners this season after Ameer Abdullah was the Offensive Player of the Week for his rushing effort against Wisconsin.

Nebraska Has Shot to Return to Big Ten Title Game

Posted on November 10, 2013

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Nebraska has given itself a shot to get back to the Big Ten championship game with two straight wins on late touchdown passes.

Michigan, meanwhile, is relegated to playing for bowl positioning.

The Cornhuskers host Legends Division-leading Michigan State on Saturday with a shot to control their championship chances. If Nebraska hands the Spartans their first Big Ten loss, it will move into a first-place tie in the division and would win the tiebreaker if both teams finish the regular season with two more wins.

The Wolverines lost hope of ending the school’s Big Ten title drought at nine years by losing three of the last four games. They play at Northwestern and at Iowa before hosting archrival and potentially undefeated Ohio State with only pride at stake.

Huskers Crowned B1G Tournament Champions

Posted on November 10, 2013

Champaign, Ill. – The Nebraska soccer program added a second conference tournament trophy to its mantle on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Iowa to claim its first Big Ten Tournament Championship. Jaycie Johnson’s penalty kick goal in the 30th minute was the difference as the Huskers locked up both regular-season and tournament titles for the fourth time in school history and first since 2000.

Johnson, who leads NU with 13 goals, earned a penalty kick chance in the 30th minute after an excellent through ball from junior Mayme Conroy. The speedy freshman converted on the ensuing PK opportunity beating the Iowa keeper right side with a powerful shot to give NU the 1-0 edge. The score was the first allowed by Iowa in four matches and was enough to clinch the tournament crown.

The Nebraska defense had a tough tasks on its hands as Iowa outshot the Huskers by a 16-11 margin. However, NU allowed just three shots on goal while putting up four attempts on target. Jordan Jackson led the Scarlet and Cream with five attempts.

Ari Romero, Kylie Greischar, Mayme Conroy, Jordan Jackson and Maritza Hayes all played 90 minutes for Nebraska.

Senior goalkeeper Emma Stevens, who also worked the entire 90, made three stops in the title battle and make some excellent touches later in the match to avoid the equalizer en route to her 18th win of the year. The victory for the Corona, Calif. native is the 36th of her career.

The 18th-ranked Huskers (18-3-1) are on a season-best nine-game win streak and have won 16 of its last 17 matches for the first time since 2002 when NU ran off 22 of its first 23 matches. NU has now scored in 18 consecutive matches, its longest streak since 2000 when Nebraska scored in its first 23 contests. The 18 victories are also the most since 2000.

In a brief ceremony following the title celebration, Jordan Jackson, Ari Romero and Jaycie Johnson were all named to the 2013 Big Ten All-Tournament Team. Johnson was selected Offensive Player the Tournament, while Romero was named Defensive Player of the Tournament.

The Huskers appeared in a conference tournament championship match for the seventh time, registering a 6-1 record, in school history and first since 2002 when NU brought home the Big 12 title. The Scarlet and Cream are 12-0-1 this season when scoring first and now have a 21-10 overall record in conference tournament matches, including five titles.

The B1G Tournament title is the 10th conference championship for Head Coach John Walker after starting the NU soccer program 20 years ago. Nebraska won regular season titles in 1996, 1999, 2000 and now 2013, while taking home tournament titles in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 and on Sunday.

Nebraska will now await their NCAA Tournament bid, which will be revealed on Monday at 3:30 p.m. with the Selection Show streamed live on NCAA.com.

2013 Big Ten Soccer All-Tournament Team

Illinois forward Jannelle Flaws

Indiana midfielder Kayleigh Steigerwalt

Michigan midfielder Tori McCombs

Minnesota forward Simone Kolander

Wisconsin forward Rose Lavelle

Penn State goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom

Iowa defender Melanie Pickert

Iowa goalkeeper Hannah Clark

Nebraska defender Ari Romero

Nebraska forward Jordan Jackson

Nebraska forward Jaycie Johnson

Individual Awards

Defensive Player of the Tournament: Ari Romero, Nebraska

Offensive Player of the Tournament: Jaycie Johnson, Nebraska

Big Ten Champion

Nebraska

UNL to Compete in Game Day Challenge on Recycling

Posted on November 10, 2013

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — On Saturday the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will compete in the Game Day Challenge recycling competition.

It will be UNL’s fourth consecutive year in the competition. The Game Day Challenge aims to divert as much waste as possible during one fall football game.

Dozens of volunteers will be needed outside Memorial Stadium to help round up refuse from tailgaters.

The Game Day Challenge measures success based on waste minimization, diversion rate, greenhouse gas reduction and other factors. Last year UNL ranked second in the Big Ten Conference in both waste minimization and diversion rate.

People interested in volunteering can contact the recycling coordinators at 402-472-9139 or recycling@unl.edu.

Nebraska Beats Michigan 17-13 on Another Late TD

Posted on November 9, 2013November 9, 2013

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw a left-handed, 5-yard shovel pass to Ameer Abdullah for a go-ahead touchdown with 2:03 left and Nebraska’s defense made enough stops to seal a 17-13 win over Michigan on Saturday.

The Cornhuskers (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) kept their chances alive of returning to the conference championship game.Nebraska can move a big step closer to its goal by beating Legends Division-leading Michigan State next Saturday at home.

The Wolverines (6-3, 2-3) dashed hopes of earning a Big Ten title for the first time since 2004 with their first loss in 20 home games under coach Brady Hoke, turning the ball over on downs during their last possession.

Michigan went ahead 13-10 on Brendan Gibbons’ 40-yard field goal with 8:08 left after Jordan Westerkamp fumbled on a punt return, then its defense allowed the Cornhuskers to convert a fourth down on a 75-yard, game-winning drive.

Nebraska Christens New Arena with a 79-55 Victory

Posted on November 8, 2013November 8, 2013

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Shavon Shields scored 28 points, Terran Petteway added 17 and Nebraska celebrated the opening of the new Pinnacle Bank Arena with a 79-55 victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Friday night.

The Cornhuskers, picked to finish last in the Big Ten, started fast and never trailed against an Eagles team that was the darling of the NCAA tournament last March.

Shields was 8 of 13 from the field and made all 12 of his free throws. His makes and attempts from the line were career highs. He also led the Huskers with six rebounds.

Jamail Jones had 17 points and eight rebounds, Bernard Thompson scored 12 points and Filip Cvjeticanin 10 for Florida Gulf Coast, which is favored to win the Atlantic Sun Conference.

The Huskers played without top returning scorer Ray Gallegos, who was suspended for the first two games because of a violation of team rules.

Huskers Advance to B1G Championship

Posted on November 8, 2013November 8, 2013

Champaign, Ill – The top-seeded Nebraska soccer team faced an early deficit for second straight match but used three second-half goals to defeat No. 4 seed Indiana by a 3-1 margin on Friday in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals at the Illinois Soccer Stadium. NU’s season-best eighth consecutive win locked up a spot in Sunday’s title match against the No. 7 seed Iowa.

Freshman Jaycie Johnson recorded two goals in the match for the third time in her debut season with the Huskers (17-3-1). Johnson’s 12 goals on the year leads the Huskers as the All-Big Ten Second Team selection becomes just the 12th NU player to at least score two goals in a conference tournament match. The speedy forward recorded a season-high five shots on goal as she played 80 minutes.

The Huskers will be making their seventh appearance in a conference tournament championship match and first since 2002. The Scarlet and Cream are 5-1 all-time in league tournament finals. NU will try to lock up both regular-season and tournament tiles for the fourth time in school history with the last coming in 2000. Friday’s semifinal match was Nebraska’s 280th victory on the pitch.

Indiana (14-6-1) jumped out quickly as Bekah White sent a sharp ball into the upper right corner of the goal at the 7:26 mark for the early 1-0 edge. NU keeper Emma Stevens got a hand on the attempt but the shot found the back of the net to put NU in an early hole.

Johnson’s equalizer less than two minutes into the second half put Nebraska on the board after senior Jordan Jackson found the freshman with a pass ahead into the box. Johnson managed to put the ball away upper 90 to tie the match 1-1 as NU used the wind to its advantage in the final 45 minutes.

A few minutes later, Johnson gained the box running to her left before she was taken down for a penalty kick chance. However, Jackson’s PK opportunity floated high of the crossbar in the 54th minute.

In the 68th minute, senior defender Kylie Greischar dribbled through the defense along the top of the box and fired a left-footed bouncer which found its way through the IU defense to give Nebraska its first lead of the match, 2-1. The game-winning score for the Overland Park, Kan. native was the first of her career as Nebraska gained momentum.

As Indiana looked for the equalizer in the pressure-packed final minutes, Johnson’s second goal of the match came after an excellent pass from sophomore Katie Kraeutner down the left side to beat the defender and dribble by the keeper for the tap-in for a 3-1 lead to put the match away.

The Huskers have now won 17 matches for the first time since 2001. Nebraska has won 15 of its last 16 matches for the first time since 2002 when NU rattled off 22 of its first 23 matches. NU has now scored in 18 consecutive matches, its longest streak since 2000 when Nebraska scored in its first 23 contests. The Scarlet and Cream are 14-0-1 when scoring 2 or more goals this season.

The NU defense was strong once again as Indiana outshot Nebraska by an 18-13 margin. Big Ten Defender of the Year Ari Romero made several fine plays to deny Indiana on her way to playing all 90 minutes along with her fellow defender Maritza Hayes. Jackson also worked all 90 minutes as she recorded her 28th career assist, which is seventh best in school history.

Nebraska will face the No. 7 seed Iowa on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1:00 p.m. in the 2013 Big Ten Tournament Championship match. The Hawkeyes defeated Penn State by a 1-0 margin in the first semifinal contest on Friday. The title match will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.