Loper Women’s Soccer Earns First Win of Breton Tenure

KEARNEY – The Nebraska Kearney women’s soccer team got goals from three different players and junior keeper Mackenzie Smith had a key early save as the Lopers downed Quincy (Ill.), 3-0, Friday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.

The Lopers (1-2-0) face Drury (Mo.) University on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Panthers (2-1-0) downed Eastern New Mexico, 3-0, in Friday’s early game. ENMU (1-1-2) and QU square off at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Today’s win marks the first for head coach Rob Breton. He took over the reins of the program last year with UNK tying three of 18 contests. Prior to today, the last UNK fall win came on Oct. 1, 2021, against Newman (2-1 in double overtime).

“The girls did a great job. They showed up ready to go, they listened to the game plan, and they were ready to work,” said Breton. “They found it within themselves to put the ball into the back of the net. This is just the start of the things we can do. It’s putting the little pieces together day in and day out.”

While the Lopers dominated the Hawks (0-3-0) throughout, QU had a great chance to grab a 1-0 just minutes into the action. Junior Jacqueline Garcia got fouled in the box but her PK attempt was stopped by Smith (Lincoln H.S.). She correctly guessed the shot would be to her left and a hockey-style kick save kept things scoreless.

“That changes the entire match because if she doesn’t save that, they are up 1-0 and how do we react, how do we handle it”, said Breton. “When you have a save in that type of moment, you completely change everything. Because now we have a little bit of belief in ourselves, rather than giving up a PK.

“She didn’t get caught cheating as she dove and got that back foot out and saved the ball.”

Almost halfway through the period, junior Katie Pagel (Aurora, Colo.) lofted a corner attempt into the box. The ball found junior Emily Flowers (Kansas City) who headed in for her first career goal. Less than five minutes later, a long ball off the foot of super senior Lily Engeman (Olathe, Kan.) found sophomore Corynne Olsen (Lincoln SE) running free down the left side of the field. She poked it in for career goal number one and a 2-0 halftime lead.

Early in the second half, senior Aspen Brandich (Colorado Springs) saw her shot from the right box saved by QU keeper Julia Mincher. However, she just poked the ball out and freshman Sarah Levy (Basalt, Colo.) was there for the rebound. 

“We’ve been working on corners before every single game day. Just simply making your runs and attacking the ball, wanting the ball. We got to see that today,” said Breton. “The one with the long ball was part of the passing that we’ve worked on practice and the scrappy one … sometimes you just have to want the ball and put in the goal.”

Ten different Lopers got a shot off with Olsen, redshirt freshman Rachel Warrick (Lincoln SE) and true freshman Jordan Renard (Lincoln NE) at two apiece. Smith had that one save in 77:46 of work with QU having most of its six shots coming in the waning minutes.

The goal tally is the most since a 3-0 win by the 2016 Lopers over Southwest Baptist. Next, this is UNK’s first non-conference winning since a 1-0 decision vs. Minnesota State-Moorhead to start the 2021 season.

“We’ve very excited for Sunday. I think this kind of gets them over that hump and takes the weight off their backs,” said Breton. “They realize they are more than capable of it.”