Abbi Neece and Tori Cannata each scored goals in the second half and Arkansas defeated Nebraska 3-1 in its final exhibition match of the preseason Thursday.
Neece’s goal in the 52nd minute gave the Razorbacks a 2-1 lead after the game was tied 1-1 at halftime. Tyler Runnels had the assist on the goal, one of two against Nebraska starter Aubrei Corder.
Cannata’s goal in the 82nd minute went over the head of Nebraska reserve goalkeeper Mayte Corral.
“We were a bit off in the first half, but they found a way to stay in the game,” Arkansas coach Colby Hale said. “The second half, we were suffocating at times. Obviously, there are some areas of growth for us that Nebraska exposed, but we had a lot of really good stretches.”
The Cornhuskers out-shot the Razorbacks 9-8, including 5-4 on goal. Arkansas goalkeeper Taylor Beitz allowed one goal and had one save in just more than 30 minutes, while Alexis Bach had two saves in 31-plus scoreless minutes and Rachel Harris had one save in just more than 28 scoreless minutes.
Taylor Malham, who scored the only goal in the Razorbacks’ 1-0 exhibition win over Kansas State last Saturday, scored in the fifth minute on a rebound off a corner kick by Parker Goins. Nebraska tied the match eight minutes later on a header by Faith Carter.
The Cornhuskers have 17 returning players from a team that was 9-5-5 last season.
Arkansas is scheduled to open the season Aug. 17 with a neutral-site game against Duquesne on the campus Penn State in State College, Pa. The Razorbacks will play No. 9 West Virginia, a Final Four participant a year ago, at the same site Aug. 19.