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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 1999)
_ t;— By Brandon Schulte Staff writer A new season starts Sunday for the No. 4 Nebraska soccer team. With a No. 4 seed and a home field advantage through the quarter final round in hand, die Comhuskers will face their first test in their quest for the Women’s College Cup with their best chance ever to win the national title. After a first round bye, the Comhuskers (20-1-1) will play host to the Golden Gophers (13-8) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Abbott Sports Complex. Minnesota defeated Eastern Michigan 2-0 Wednesday night in a match played at Minneapolis in the first round. Nebraska comes into the match hot, winning 12 consecutive matches since a 0-0 tie with Clemson on Sept. 26. NU ranks second in the nation in scoring at 4.59 goals per game and is fifth nationally in goals allowed at 0.56 goals per game. Even though Minnesota comes into the match unranked and Nebraska is on a roll, Coach John Walker is wary of the Gophers. “We’re quite familiar with Minnesota,” Walker said. “Minnesota has always been a real attack-minded team.” The teams have met three times in the past four seasons . If the game is anything like past meetings between the two schools, then the Huskers will be in for a battle. In the 1996 NCAA Tournament, H Minnesota has always been a real attack-minded team” John Walker NU soccer coach - ' '' Nebraska outlasted Minnesota 3-2 in quadruple overtime. NU also won the last meeting 3-1 in 1997 at home. The teams have two common opponents: Kentucky and Iowa State. Nebraska defeated both by a com Please see SOCCER on 11 Mike Warren/DN Nebraska Coach John Walker directs his team during practice. Nil takes on Minnesota In the first round of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. _' MikeWarren/DN Stew Warren has played a key role la the strength of the Nebraska defense this season after battling back pains last year. S' r*f By Darren Ivy Senior staff writer During last year’s 40-30 loss to Kansas State, Nebraska defensive tackle Steve Warren basically wilted himself onto the football field to play. The 6-foot-2 then-315-pounder was playing at about 60 percent because of two damaged discs in his bade. But injuries to other players and inexperience forced him into action. <(I had to play through it We were.a young team last year and didn’t have a lot of depth at defensive tackle,” Warren said. “(Jason) Lohr and (Jeremy) Stechta were still learning. (Jason) Wiltz had an ankle injury, and (Loran) Kaiser was just getting into a rhythm. I had to do what I had to do for the team” When Warren came out of the game, he would mention to the other defensive linemen that his back was sore, but not to the coaches, Stechta said. He was “really dedicated” and wanted to play, no matter how much pain he was in. Somehow, Warren made it through the season. After the Holiday Bowl, he took some time off before spring football. He worked op his flexibility and strength to try and alleviate his bpck pain. The exercises seem to have worked because this year a healthy Warren is leading the Comhuskers with six sacks and 11 tackles for a loss. Last week against Texas A&M, Warren had a career-high three sacks, ft was his biggest game iji ^Nebraskauniform. Warren’s performance didh’tcome as a surprise to teammate Lbran Kaiser, who said Warren had been causing problems for opposing offenses all year. “This is the Steye Warren that everyone hab been waiting for,” Kaiser said. “He’s been playing out of his mind right now. He’s flying to the ball. He’s get ting a great pass rush. He’s feeling good, and he’s healthy.” Last year Warren was anything but healthy and often wondered if playing football was worth the Huskers ready tor K-State — By Darren Ivy Senior staff writer It has been 363 days since Ralph Brown walked off Wagner Field in disbelief that Kansas State had just defeated Nebraska 40-30, ending the Comhusker’s hopes of a decent bowl, its 29-year win streak and its dominance over the North division. For Brown, that is 363 days too long. If it were up to him, the two teams would have turned around and played it again the next week. But it wasn’t up to him, and he has had to wait a painstakingly long time for his shot at redemption. Brown’s week is now here, and he has talked about the 2:38 p.m. contest Saturday with the same intensity on his face as he had after last year’s loss, when he said to reporters: \ ' . 7 -v . V -lit':