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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2000)
SportsWeekend Huskers prepare for top competition ■ NU faces defending champions North Carolina tonight. By Brian Christopherson Staff writer North Carolina sits at the head of the women’s college soccer table, the very spot Nebraska is scrapping toward. Tonight, the worlds of champion and challenger collide in a match at 7 at the Abbott Sports Complex. The Tar Heels carry the title of defending champion on their backs into this spring exhibition season. North Carolina wop 2-0 against Notre Dame in the NCAA Championship game last fall. ; Last year’s success was nothing new to UNC. Its Final Four appear ance was the program’s 18th consecu tive. “They have a standard of excel lence in soccer,” Nebraska Coach John Walker said. “We’re excited and looking forward to playing such great opposition.” However, the Comhuskers are far from intimidated by the women in baby blue. ■ NU is 2-0-1 in the spring season and has been on the edge of greatness themselves. The Huskers were a shoot-out away against Notre Dame from the Final Four last season. “We respect them, but we also know that we can compete with any one out there,” freshman Kori Saunders said. Walker said he is also confident in his team, especially after such a n successful start to this spring. “The games have gone really well, with probably the least impres sive showing coming against Iowa,” Walker said. The least impressive win against Iowa that Walker mentioned was a 6 Please see SOCCER on 15 Heather Glenboski/DN FRESHMAN CHRISTINE LATHAM and the rest of the Husker soccer team will be challenging defending champion North Carolina on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Abbott Sports Complex. The team is currently 2-0-1 In the spring season. NU looks for confidence 4. ■ Baseball team tries for much-needed wins against Big 12 foe Kansas. By Dane Stkkney Senior editor When the Nebraska baseball team faces Kansas this weekend, it will have some much-needed confi dence. After losing three close games to Baylor last weekend, the Cornhuskers pounded Northwest Missouri State 18-6 Tuesday. The team hopes the offensive explosion will carry over to this weekend’s three-game series against the Jayhawks, NU Coach Dave Van Horn said. “This is a big series for us, and if our offense gets consistently solid, we could sweep,” Van Horn said. “But our hitters have been up and down in the past few weeks.” Kansas is 19-15 on the season after an emotional 10-5 win against Wichita State on Tuesday. The win, which was in front of the fourth-largest home crowd in KU history, marked the first time the Jayhawks beat the Shockers in six years. Van Horn said the Jayhawks are a solid team. “They’re a good team,” he said. “They’ll come in here believing they’re going to win two out of three.” Third baseman Brant Vlieger said this weekend’s series must go well for the Huskers (7-8 in the con ference) if they expect to compete in the conference. “We’re under .500, so every game from here on out is huge,” Vlieger said. “We’re not where we Please see BASEBALL on 15 NU hosts meet at refurbished stadium ” It’s like having a great car, like a ’32 Ford, and not having any upholstery or a paint job.” ■ i ' ' : Gary Pepin NU track coach By Jamie Suhr Staff writer The athletes competing in the Husker Open on Saturday will receive a unique luxury. Saturday’s competition of more than 1,000 athletes is the first meet in three years on the newly refurbished Ed Weir Stadium Track. Competitors from 20 different institutions will be represented including Iowa State, Northern Iowa and other athletes without any school affiliation. “It’s very exciting to open a new stadium,” shot-putter Leann Boerema said. “We’re fortunate to have a first-class facility and open up against some good competition.” But many top Husker athletes will be held out of competition in order to rest for more important meets. The women’s 1600-meter relay team members Jelena Stanisavljevic, Lesley Owusu, Cheryl Harmon and Stella Klassen will watch from the stands, and high-jumper Carrie Braness may sit out because of ten donitis in her knee. “If I jump, it’ll be more like a practice session,” Braness said. Please see TRACK on 15 Creighton stops NU winning streak By Sean Callahan Staff writer OMAHA - Long-lasting records stand for a reason. By taking a 2-0 loss to Creighton (20-13) on Thursday night, the Nebraska softball team (27-16) missed out on a chance to add to their season-best winning streak of 14 games. But the big streak that was bro ken was the chance at the all-time win streak of 17 games that goes all the way back to the 1983 sea son. NU Coach Rhonda Revelle said she felt the Bluejays played with much more fire than the Comhuskers. “I’m going to tip my hat to Creighton,” Revelle said. “I thought they wanted it more than we did tonight.” Revelle said the fact that the game with CU has become more of a rivalry over the last couple of years really made her question why Creighton played with so much more passion than Nebraska. In saying this, Revelle said she was not trying to bring her team down, she just thought it looked obvious the Bluejays wanted it more. ” I’m going to tip my hat to Creighton. I thought they wanted it more than we did tonight.” Rhonda Revelle NU softball coach “This is an in-state rivalry, and I felt they were more hungrier than we were,” Revelle said. The Huskers didn’t give sopho more pitcher Leigh Ann Walker much support offensively, accumu lating one hit. In taking the loss, Walker (11-5) gave up no earned runs and only three hits. CU scored its first run in the fourth inning by scoring off a run with runners on first and third with two outs. Creighton pitcher Marie Gieron Please see SOFTBALL on 15