Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore forward Morgan Abert banged home a direct kick from 30 yards out to propel the Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team to a 2-1 win over Wayne State in the Lopers first-ever game Thursday night in Kearney.

An NCAA Division II record crowd of 3,227 fans watched the Lopers and Wildcats at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field. The previous Division II record for game attendance was 2,004, set in 2007 when Dallas Baptist visited Central Oklahoma.

Wayne quieted a raucous crowd when Tiffani Kellerman scored 21 minutes into the game. The goal came right after a Wildcat corner kick; the ball bounced off a Loper defender and Kellerman, a Bellevue junior, made a shot from about 10 yards out.

UNK had a quick response as they took advantage of their own corner kick. At the 32 minute mark, Kearney freshman Alicia Crawford took the corner kick and sent a perfect pass to Abert (Waupaca, Wis.), who headed it for the first goal in school history.

Both teams had changes to score over the next 30 minutes but the clock was winding down and it appeared UNK's first-ever game might go into overtime.

But Abert, the team MVP at Division III Ripon (WI) College last fall, made sure no extra time would be needed as she set up for a direct kick after Wayne's eight foul of the night. With just under five minutes to go, Abert's direct kick sailed high towards the goal and managed to be above the hands of 'Cat keeper Emily Walker.

Wayne never seriously threatened to score in the final four minutes. Fremont freshman Marissa Niday, who holds the Class A record for saves in a season (306/2006), earned the win in goal for UNK as she stopped two shots.

Tonight's game wasn't the first official NCAA soccer game at Cope Stadium; RMAC-member Mesa State beat Winona (MI) State, 3-1, earlier this afternoon. Tomorrow night at 5:30, Wayne will battle Mesa.

On Sunday, UNK will host Mary (N.D.) at 1:00 p.m.