Waldeck's Hat Trick Helps U-M Overcome Early Nebraska Goal

Thursday, October 2

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:30 PM

Michigan

9-3-0, 5-1-0Big Ten

Nebraska

5-5-2, 1-3-2Big Ten

Nebraska

Michigan

Waldeck's Hat Trick Helps U-M Overcome Early Nebraska Goal

10/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

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By: Whitney Dixon

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 3, Nebraska 1
Records: U-M (9-3, 5-1 Big Ten), NEB (5-5-2, 1-3-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 328
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 5 -- vs. Iowa (U-M Soccer Stadium), 2 p.m. (BTN Plus)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore forward Nicky Waldeck (Chicago, Ill./Western Reserve Academy [OH]) notched her first career hat trick to help the University of Michigan women's soccer team overcome an early 1-0 deficit and defeat Nebraska, 3-1, on Thursday (Oct. 2) at U-M Soccer Stadium. The Maize and Blue improved to 8-0 at home and 5-1-0 in Big Ten play this season.

Nicky Waldeck and Madisson Lewis (4)

Nebraska struck first in the early going, as Mayme Conroy controlled a loose ball on the left side of the box after a failed clearance by the Wolverines and banked in a low shot off the right post. The unassisted goal came at the 7:43 mark.

Waldeck put the Wolverines on the board and evened the score 1-1 in the 31st minute. Sophomore/freshman Ani Sarkisian (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill/Florida State) played a ball forward to the top of the box, where Waldeck took one touch to beat a Nebraska defender and then dribbled around Husker keeper Kelly Schatz, who came out to challenge Waldeck, and put the ball away.

A little more than 10 minutes later, Waldeck produced again on nearly the same play, as she drew the goalkeeper out to the penalty spot and beat her one on one for the score. Freshman Niki Wilkinson (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Palos Verdes) and Sarkisian assisted on Michigan's second goal, and after doing down early, the Wolverines took a 2-1 lead into the half.

Waldeck completed the hat trick with her reassurance goal at the 64:05 mark. Wilkinson headed the ball to the feet of junior Corinne Harris (Chicago, Ill./Walter Payton College Prep), who dribbled through two UN defenders toward the top of the box. Harris then slotted a pass through to Waldeck, who let the ball slide through and one-touched it on the ground into the left side of the net.

The hat trick by Waldeck is the program's first since former Wolverine Nkem Ezurike (2010-13) had three goals at Purdue on Oct. 16, 2011.

Freshman goalkeeper Megan Hinz (Eldersburg, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) made one save en route to her eighth win of the season.

The Wolverines will conclude their three-game homestand when they host Iowa on Sunday (Oct. 5) at 2 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium. The game will be streamed live on BTN Plus.

GAME SUMMARY

By Periods	1	2	F
Nebraska	1	0	1
Michigan	2	1	3

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- UN, Mayme Conroy, 7:43 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Nicky Waldeck, 30:31 (Ani Sarkisian)
1st -- U-M, Waldeck, 41:10 (Niki Wilkinson, Sarkisian)
2nd -- U-M, Waldeck, 64:05 (Corinne Harris, Wilkinson)

Shots: U-M 10, NEB 13
Shots on Goal: U-M 4, NEB 2
Saves: U-M 1 (Megan Hinz), NEB 1 (Kelly Schatz)
Corner Kicks: U-M 2, NEB 4
Cards: None

NOTES

• With Michigan's win over Nebraska, the Wolverines remain unbeaten at home at 8-0 this season and improve to 9-3 overall and 5-1 in Big Ten play.

• Michigan now leads Nebraska 5-1-1 in the all-time series, including 4-0 since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten Conference in 2011.

• Michigan's three goals today were the most for the Wolverines since they defeated Central Michigan, 3-0, on Sept. 7. U-M's two-goal win was also its largest margin of victory since the CMU match.

• Nicky Waldeck notched her first career hat trick, becoming the eighth player in program history to do so and the first since Nkem Ezurike at Purdue on Oct. 16, 2011. Waldeck now has eight goals and three assists on the season for a team-best 19 points.

• Nicky Waldeck has tallied nine points in the last two games, with her hat trick today and a goal and assist in U-M's win over Michigan State. Waldeck also has three game-winning goals this season.

• Goalkeeper Megan Hinz earned her eighth win of the season (8-1). With one goal allowed tonight, she has allowed just five goals through six Big Ten Conference matchups.

• Corinne Harris assisted on Nicky Waldeck's third goal to give her eight assists this season, tied for first on the team with Ani Sarkisian. Her 19 career assists are tied for sixth in program history.

• Recording assists on Nicky Waldeck's first two goals, Ani Sarkisian now has 16 points this season on four goals and eight assists. She is second for Michigan in points and tied for first with Corinne Harris in assists.

• Freshman Niki Wilkinson recorded her first multi-point game, assisting on Nicky Waldeck's second and third goals. She now has three assists this season, and they have all come in the last two games.