NU soccer team readies for faceoff with A&M

Brittany Pfeil doesn't expect offensive fireworks this Friday night.

The senior goalkeeper for the Nebraska soccer squad said the Cornhuskers and the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies have similar playing styles, but she believes her team can keep up with A&M.

"I think we have better players versus their players," Pfeil said. "I think we're going to come out more aggressive. Their strengths are our strengths as well, so I think it's going to be a close game."

The Huskers (7-4-1 Big 12) have a tall task against Texas A&M (3-0-1 Big 12) on Friday night under the lights of the Aggies' soccer stadium. The Aggies have only lost one match all season to No. 2 North Carolina.

Friday will be NU's second road conference game. Last Sunday, Nebraska lost 1-0 against Baylor in its Big 12 debut on the road. NU Coach John Walker said his team has already rebounded from that game, and is ready for another tough contest against TAMU.

"(We need to) do the things we've done all season, but do them at a higher level," Walker said. "They're a dangerous team so the margin for error is pretty slim."

Texas A&M ranks second in the Big 12 in points (90), assists (24) and goals (33). Five women on their team have four goals apiece, which could create havoc for the Nebraska defenders.

Walker said the Huskers are fairly healthy at this point in the season, with 22 players ready to go. He did say, however, that sophomore Alexa Cardona will redshirt due to a lingering mid-foot sprain and Shannon Dickerson is out for the season with a knee injury.

Walker said Cardona should make an impact next year.

"She's too talented of a player," Walker said. "It would be a shame for her to play a smaller role and kind of waste a year of eligibility."

Sophomore midfielder Anna White knows the Aggies are strong in the air and she said her squad focused a lot on defending A&M's set plays this week in practice. Set plays include corner and free kicks where the offense gets a chance to "set" up its attack.

"If we go out there and just be ourselves like the way that we train, I think we will be prepared," White said.

One thing that should help the Huskers is the fact that it's a night game slated for 7:30 p.m. Walker said NU usually practices in 60 degree weather at the Nebraska Soccer Field, so having to play during the day in the Texas heat makes a big difference. He said Friday night the temperature will be cooler so there's no need to worry about playing conditions.

Pfeil said she is excited to take on the Aggies because she has never beaten TAMU in her time at NU. She also added that A&M draws huge crowds playing at home which helps motivate the Aggies.

"The atmosphere there is absolutely unreal … they call it the "12th man" and it is like they have another player there on the field," Pfeil said.

This will be the Norfolk native's third time travelling to College Station, Texas, for a game and Pfeil said she's ready for anything the Aggie faithful throw at her.

"I know they're going to be haggling me from the back," Pfeil said. "They're going to be talkin' stuff to me, but I'm not going to let it get to me at all … the atmosphere to me, because I know what to expect, will be an energy boost."

jeffstraub@dailynebraskan.com