Box Score Kearney Hub Review

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team is headed to the postseason for the first time in the program's five-year existence after posting a 1-0 win over Fort Hays State Friday night at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.
 
The Lopers end the regular season with an 8-8-2 (5-4-2) mark and will play in the eight-team MIAA Tournament starting Tuesday, November 5th. They'll likely be a fifth, sixth or seventh seed.
 
The bracket will be announced Sunday evening at the conclusion of the regular season. The top four seeds host on Tuesday with winners advancing to the semifinals next weekend in Olathe, Kans.
 
UNK controlled the action the Tigers (7-8-3, 3-5-3), who will not make the MIAA's after winning the tournament last fall.
 
In the first half, Hays' Amanda Talbott lined up for a corner kick. Her perfectly placed ball was headed into the back of the Loper net by Hannah Smith. However, the goal was waved off due to a foul.
 
Out shooting the Tigers by five, 12-7, UNK had a great chance to score early in the second half when North Platte sophomore Breezy Jahnke fired a shot from eight yards out. But, Australian keeper Nicole Barnaba was there to make the save.
 
With just under 10 minutes left in regulation, Hays was in control of the ball at their end of the field. After senior Missy Everson (Pasco, Wash.) stole the ball thanks to a header, UNK senior Becka Talcott (Denver, Colo.) found it at her feet and she fired a rocket from around 30 yards out.
 
It found the right corner of the net and the Loper defense then held on to record its eighth shutout of the fall.
 
This marked Talcott's fifth goal of the season and second straight game winner. She tallied a penalty kick in double overtime to beat Lindenwood, 1-0, Sunday afternoon.

Earlier this fall, she became the all-time leading scorer in program history and now sits at 41 points on 17 goals.
 
"With the way things have been going, I wasn't sure it was going to go in. I thought it might hit the post or go wide," said UNK coach John Maessner. "It's very fitting she's the one that scored the goal. As a team, I think this is the best 90 minutes we've played all season."
 
Off the bench, Papillion sophomore Montana Hosterman had three shots with sophomore keeper Katelin Mielke making three saves.