Lincoln, Neb. – Behind Eleanor Dale’s fourth-straight brace and the Huskers’ fourth shutout of the season, the Nebraska soccer team topped Maryland 3-0 at Hibner Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Today’s win marked the Huskers’ third-straight conference victory as they improved to 10-2-3 (4-1-2 Big Ten) on the season, while Maryland fell to 3-7-5 (0-6-1 Big Ten).
In the 19th minute, junior forward Sarah Weber got the Husker offense going in the first half as she netted her eighth finish of the season and second game winner. Florence Belzile, who tallied her 10th assist of the year, sent a cross to Abbey Schwarz who passed the ball to Weber who gathered and scored.
At the break, the Huskers held the 1-0 score advantage and led in shots (10-7) and corner kicks (4-2), as both teams were tied with two shots on goal apiece.
Then in the second half, Dale, the nation’s leading goal scorer, tallied her 20th and 21st goals of the season in the final 10 minutes of play. The Billingham, England, native is tied for fourth on the Huskers’ all-time list of total goals in a season.
In the 83rd minute, defender Nicola Hauk recorded her second career assist as she sent a driving pass down the pitch to Dale who gathered and sent into the bottom left corner of the net. Just six minutes later, Belzile took the corner kick and sent the ball just outside the goal box, which Dale met with a header for the score. Belzile is now tied for second in the country with 11 assists on the year.
In the goal, senior Hauk played the entire game, earned her 21st career win and recorded five saves. Hauk was joined by defenders Nicola Hauk and Lauryn Anglim, midfielder Haley Peterson, and Dale who also played 90 minutes.
Overall, Weber led the Husker offense with seven shots and was one of six Huskers to record a shot as Dale tallied six, and Schwarz and Sadie Waite recorded two apiece. As a team, the Huskers outshot the Terrapins 19-12 and helped the 9-5 advantage in shots on goal.
Up next, the Huskers hit the road to face Minnesota in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. (CT). Action will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
