Round 2: Pilots 3, Nebraska 2
LINCOLN, Neb. - The unseeded Nebraska Cornhuskers made it interesting November 13 against the top-seed and No. 1 ranked Portland women’s soccer team, but Christine Sinclair and the Pilots survived and advanced with a 3-2, second-round victory in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championships held at Nebraska Soccer Field. Sinclair scored two goals and assisted on the third leading the Pilots to the third round for the sixth consecutive season.
Nebraska (18-8-1) were the first team this season to score two goals against the Pilots, but the Cornhuskers could not contain the nation’s leading scorer.
Sinclair tied the NCAA Division-I single-season record of 37 goals, set by Lisa Cole of Southern Methodist in 1987, and extended her NCAA postseason goals-scored record to 23. Her five-point performance on Sunday also propelled her to fourth place in NCAA D-I career points with 248. Her goals made her the University of Portland career goals (108) and points (248) leader, surpassing Pilot standout Tiffeny Milbrett’s previous marks of 103 and 246, respectively. Sinclair is second in NCAA history to Danielle Fotopoulos’ 118 career goals (SMU/Florida, 1994-96, 98), while her 84 total points in 2005 were 13 shy of Mia Hamm’s 1992 NCAA D-I single-season record.
Under windy conditions and a sparse crowd of 517, the Pilots had their hands full with a confident Nebraska squad. As Portland has done all season, the Pilots found their star striker and put her in position to score early. Sophomore forward Natalie Budge gathered a short goal kick from Huskers’ keeper Jamie Klages and dealt a pass to Sinclair. Her shot form the left of the penalty area tucked away into the right corner for a 1-0 lead just 3:50 into the game.
Nebraska equalized in the 20th minute as a corner kick turned into a scrum in front of the Pilots’ net. Jessie Goodall put away loose ball for her first goal of the season as Aysha Jamani was credited with the assist.
Sinclair took matters into her own hands for Portland’s second goal. Klages had the ball at her feet at the top left of the penalty box and was prepping to send it downfield when Sinclair made a break back. A startled Klages kicked the ball into the back of Sinclair and the race was on towards the goal mouth. Sinclair beat the keeper to the ball and finished to the open net for a 2-1 lead.
It looked like that’s how it would go to halftime, but in the closing seconds Sinclair raced down the right sideline and sent a cross to Budge in front of the goal. Budge tapped in for a 3-1 lead with just six seconds remaining before the halftime buzzer.
"It was huge," said Sinclair of Portland’s third and final goal. "I think that goal deflated them and gave us some room heading into the second half."
Nebraska cut the deficit to one in the 68th minute as two-time Big 12 Player of the Year Brittany Timko sent a free kick from midfield in front of the goal. Jessie Bruch, with her back to the goal, headed home the score to give the Huskers a second wind. Despite not scoring in the second period, Portland outshot the Huskers 17-4 after the break and 33-12 for the game. Sinclair and Megan Rapinoe had nine shots each to lead the Pilots.
"A game like this is just a battle," Rapinoe said. "We just had to play our style and we’re excited about coming away with the win."
Klages kept the game within reach for Nebraska by making 10 saves. Pilot junior keeper Cori Alexander stopped three shots.
"We’re excited to be going back home," said Portland associate director of soccer Garrett Smith. "This is a tough place to play against a team like this which plays with urgency for 90 minutes. You just try to weather the storm and today we did. Give a lot of credit to Nebraska, playing against a team with that much urgency will help us down the road in the playoffs."