Jaycie Johnson can't stop scoring

First Half

The match kicked off under a beautiful blue sky and a slight breeze at the Nebraska Soccer Field.  The Huskers controlled possession and Southeast Louisiana made their mark early on with a yellow card by midfielder Jen Babcock.  However that didn't stop the Huskers from scoring four minutes into the match.  Nebraska executed a nice series of passes until it reached Jordan Jackson on the right wing and sent in a low cross that was tapped in from close range by Jaycie Johnson.

Kayla Vera has a best chance of the half for Southeastern Louisiana in the 14^th minute when the ball squirted to her inside the box but her powerful shot was turned aside for a corner by keeper Emma Stevens.  Jaycie Johnson responded a few mintues later when she drove into the box and cut to the right but her shot whistled over the crossbar for a goal kick.  In the 19^th minute, Johnson made another beautiful run and weaved through the SELA defense but her shot was flicked high and saved by keeper Hope Sabadash.  The Huskers continued to get scoring chances as Jordan Jackson had a shot in the box saved and Caroline Gray had a shot go over the crossbar in quick succession.  Hope Sabadash stepped up against in the 22^nd minute to block a Mayme Conroy shot and was probably the main reason this match was still close.

Nebraska finally broke through again in the 24^th minute.  Jaycie Johnson took a pass from Mayme Conroy in the midfield and made another beautiful run into the box dribbling past four players before taking a simple finish into the bottom left corner.  2-0 Huskers.   Nebraska continue to pepper shots on goal and Sydney Miramontez nearly had a wonder goal but her long distance flick on goal deflected off the crossbar and into the hands of Hope Sabadash.  Jaycie Johnson had another ball in the back of the net with two minutes left in the half but it was called back for offside.  Jordan Jackson had a long range shot on goal right before timeout ran out by Sabadash made another great save and the Huskers went into halftime with a two goal lead.

Second Half

Nebraska continued to dominate possession in the second half.  Jaycie Johnson tried to go for the hat trick in the 51^st minute when she got onto the end of a nice long ball but her point blank shot was blocked by Hope Sabadash.  Two minutes later finally Johnson got her hat trick.  A Samantha Areman corner bounced through the box where she headed it in at the far corner.  Three minutes Jordan Jackson put in a nice cross from the right wing and Jaycie Johnson smashed a header into the net to make it 4-0 Huskers! What a day for the freshman!

In the 60^th minute, Maritza Hayes sent a long ball into the box that was gathered by Jordan Jackson but her low shot was parried away by Hope Sabadach.  As the match went out, Coach John Walker began to called off the dogs by subbing off Jaycie Johnson and a few other starting players to give them extra rest and prevent them from getting injured.  Another freshman Rachel Brennan took Johnson's spot up front and had a scoring chance in the 76^th minute but her shot on the left wing was saved by Sabadach.

Southeast Louisiana's best chance in the second half came in the 83^rd minute when a long range Kayla Vera shot heading for the top corner was tipped over the crossbar by Emma Stevens.  The Husker keeper preserved the shutout and Nebraska came away with a resounding 4-0 win over Southeast Louisiana.

Post-Game Notes

-Jaycie Johnson proved once again she is such a good finisher and fantastic soccer player.  Today she became one of five players (and the only freshman) to score four goals in a NCAA Women's Tournament match.  Johnson now has 17 goals on the season and I wouldn't be surprised if the freshman out of Lake Winnebago, Missouri gets a call-up to the USA women's U-20 team.  This was also the highest number of goals Southeast Louisiana had given up all season.

-At the post-game conference, Jaycie Johnson said "I give a lot of props to my teammates...I am so happy I have my teammates behind my back." She was also happy with the goal in the 4th minute. "The early goal was very good for us...helps us relax a lot more." When asked how she was able to get so many goals today Johnson said "they were dropping off and giving me space to dribble" which is something teams probably shouldn't be doing against Jaycie Johnson.  Johnson also said this game was probably in her top three of favorite games so far in her Husker career.

-Coach John Walker said he was "very happy for the players" and it was "constantly nice to have the ball for long periods" during the press conference.  Regarding Jaycie Johnson, Walker said that went he was recruiting Johnson "I thought she was a player that was college ready" and she has definitely shown that this season.  Walker also referred to Johnson as a "conclusive goalscorer" since she is someone who understands that people will set her up to score goals.

-Nebraska had 35 shots (17 on target) compared to six shots (three on target) for Southeast Louisiana.  This is the most shots Nebraska has had in a game all season.

-The Huskers next match will be next Friday November 24th against the winner of tonight's Northeastern-Boston College match.  If the Huskers win that match on Friday a third round match will be played on Sunday November 26th.  These upcoming matches will either be played in Lincoln or Portland, Oregon.

GO BIG RED!!!