SLU’s Sophia Stram (28) races a Nebraska defender for the ball during Sunday’s match in Lincoln. (Photo: Nebraska Athletics)
| NCAA Soccer – Sept. 10, 2023 | 1 | 2 | Final |
| Saint Louis (5-2-1) | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| #24 Nebraska (6-1-1) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Scoring Summary
| Time | Team | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 55:26 |  | Eleanor Dale (11) PENALTY KICK GOAL. |
| 63:03 |  | Jess Preusser (1) Assisted By: Caroline Kelly. |
| 66:49 | | Katie Houck (2) Assisted By: Hannah Larson. |
| 75:54 | | Eleanor Dale (11) Assisted By: Briley Hill , Ella Guyott. |
| 87:17 | | Abbie Miller (2) Assisted By: Hannah Sawyer , Sophia Stram. |
Paige Dale
Staff Writer
LINCOLN, NE — The Saint Louis University women’s soccer team scored three second half goals, including one in the final minutes, to pull off a 3-2 upset win over No. 24 Nebraska, Sunday afternoon at Nebraska’s Hibner Field.
Abbie Miller, a grad student midfielder from St. Charles, found herself all alone in front of the Nebraska net, after a SLU free kick was headed in her direction by teammate Hannah Sawyer and again by Sophia Stram. Two Nebraska defenders tried to get to the ball, but Miller got there first and fired a shot past the Nebraska goalkeeper at the 87:17 mark to put the Billikens ahead for good.
The dramatic finish capped a thrilling second half, which saw both teams take the lead, then fall behind, before SLU finally won it at the end.
Nebraska’s Eleanor Dale scored the first goal of the game, on a penalty kick in the 56th minute. That was only the second penalty kick goal SLU goalkeeper Emily Puricelli had allowed all season.
The Billikens answered back just a few minutes late, when Jess Preusser banged in a rebound in the 64th minute to tie the game. Teammate Caroline Kelly was open in front of the Nebraska net and sent a shot toward the goal, but Nebraska goalkeeper Samanta Hauk blocked it. She wasn’t able to control it though, and the ball went to Preusser, who scored her first goal of the season to make it 1-1.
Three minutes later, in the 67th minute, SLU’s Katie Houck gave the Billikens the lead when she scored on a similar play. Hannah Larson had fired a shot, which Hauk blocked, but the ball bounded to Houck, who banged it home to make the score 2-1.
Nebraska tied the game 10 minutes later, when Dale scored her second goal of the day to make it 2-2. And it looked like the game might go into overtime, but the aggressive Billiken offense gave itself a chance by earning the free kick that set up Miller’s game-winner.
The goals by Houck and Miller were both’s second of the season.
The win lifted Saint Louis’ overall record to 5-2-1, while Nebraska suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 6-1-1.
The Billikens will be back on the road this Thursday, when they’ll travel to the Windy City to begin Atlantic 10 Conference play, with a match against Loyola Chicago. That contest will begin at 7 p.m., and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
SLU’s next home match will come next Sunday, September 17, when the Billikens will host La Salle at Hermann Stadium at 1 p.m. That match will also be streamed live on ESPN+.
2023 SLU Billikens Women’s Upcoming Soccer Schedule
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 14 (Thursday) | 7 pm | Away | Loyola Chicago | Chicago, Ill. |
| September 17 (Sunday) | 1 pm | Home | La Salle | Hermann Stadium |
| September 24 (Sunday) | 1 pm | Home | Dayton | Hermann Stadium |
| September 28 (Thursday) | 6 pm | Away | George Mason | Fairfax, Va. |
| October 1 (Sunday) | Noon | Away | VCU | Richmond, Va. |
| October 8 (Sunday) | 1 pm | Home | Richmond | Hermann Stadium |
| October 12 (Thursday) | 7 pm | Home | Massachusetts | Hermann Stadium |
| October 15 (Sunday) | Noon | Away | Rhode Island | Kingston, R.I. |
| October 19 (Thursday) | 7 pm | Home | Duquesne | Hermann Stadium |
| October 22 (Sunday) | 11:30 am | Away | Saint Joseph’s | Philadelphia, Pa. |