Sep 12, 2024

Huskers travel to #17 Iowa to open Big Ten play

Posted Sep 12, 2024 11:26 AM

Story by NU Athletic Communications 

Nebraska (3-3-0) opens conference play on Thursday, Sept. 12 as it travels to Iowa to face the #17 Hawkeyes (4-0-2). The 18th meeting between the two teams is set for 7 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus. 

Next Up

The Huskers continue their road-match streak, facing Michigan State on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 5 p.m. (CT) and Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 12 p.m. (CT). Action against the Spartans will air on BTN, while the match against the Wolverines will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.  

Numbers to Watch

  1. Sarah Weber, a 2024 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, recorded her second career hat trick against Creighton. It’s the 36th hat trick in school history and second of the 2024 season for Weber. 
  2. Weber is also fourth in school history with 280 total shots, sitting just behind Morgan Marlborough (287) in third, and ninth in shots on goal with 114, nine behind Brittany Timko in eighth. Additionally, Weber currently leads the country in shots per game, as she is averaging 5.83 and 11th in total goals with six. 
  3. Florence Belzile is currently ninth all-time in Husker history with 25 career assists, just two shy of Lindsay Eddleman in eighth. Jordan Zade, the team’s assists leader, has four on the season and is 30th nationally in assists per game. 

Quick Notes

  1. The Huskers have 10 regular-season home games scheduled for their 10th season at Hibner Stadium in 2024. 
  2. NU returns three of four All-Big Ten performers from last season, seniors Weber, Haley Peterson and Zade. Nebraska’s all-time all-conference total increased to 110, including 38 honorees since joining the Big Ten in 2011.
  3. During the 2023 season, the Huskers averaged 1,326 fans per game at Hibner Stadium, third most in Husker history and 15th in the nation. To start the 2024 season, NU has averaged 6,417 fans, good for sixth in the country. This season’s match against Creighton garnered 2,382 fans, second-most all-time at Hibner Stadium. 

Scouting Iowa 

  1. Last season’s Big Ten Tournament Champions, Iowa finished the 2023 season with a 13-5-4 record overall and 3-4-3 mark in conference play. The Hawkeyes qualified for the NCAA Tournament and defeated Bucknell in the opening round before falling to Georgia in the second round. 
  2. The Hawkeyes are undefeated on the season and have secured four shutouts, with quality wins over Wake Forest and Baylor. After hosting Nebraska on Thursday, Iowa will meet Iowa State in Ames. 
  3. Head Coach Dave Dilanni is in his 11th season at the helm of the Iowa soccer program. He’s the fifth coach in program history, coming to Iowa following an 11-year head coaching stint at Grand Valley State. Dilanni has amassed a 323-92-42 career mark and 102-74-24 record at Iowa. 
  4. Nebraska leads the all-time series 12-4-1 between the two teams. The Huskers topped the Hawkeyes last season at home, 4-2.