The No. 12 University of Florida soccer team (4-2-2, 0-0 SEC) and Nebraska (3-2-3, 0-0 Big 12) tied 1-1 2OT on a windy Sunday afternoon in front of a Nebraska Soccer Field crowd of 465.

Sunday’s match was the first overtime contest of the season for the Gators. Friday’s match with Florida Atlantic did end in a scoreless tie, but the coaches agreed at the end of regulation to end the match due to unplayable field conditions.

“I think this tie has a lot different feel than the one Friday night. We battled adversity a little bit and I thought our team came out playing hard and really took it to Nebraska,” Burleigh said. “Difficult pitch, difficult wind but that was something that we got used to. We responded much better than we did versus Illinois. We just won more 50-50 ball and put the pressure on them more.”

The Huskers scored 41 seconds into the second half, as Selenia Iacchelli hit a 35-yard free kick from above the Gator box that went through the hands of UF goalkeeper Katie Fraine. Florida picked up its play, attacking the NU goal in the second half. On their third shot of the half, the Gators were able to tie up the match. The Gators were awarded a free kick 40 yards above the NU box. Lauren Hyde’s free kick found Stacy Bishop, who headed the ball untouched into the goal from 10 yards at 64:09. It was Bishop’s first goal of the season.

The Gators looked like they were going to score in the 96^th minute when Ashley Harris ran down the ball in the box. The momentum of her two defenders sent them forward for just a fraction of a second while she was able to get a foot on the ball and send it toward the goal. Just before it crossed the line, NU sophomore Carly Peetz was able to make a sliding save to stop the Gator goal.

Harris was also involved in a near scoring opportunity in the second overtime. She was able to cross the ball deep in the NU box but it was just out of reach for Jessica Eicken who was making a far post run in the 104^th minute. In the 107^th minute, Bishop looked for her second score of the day, but her 16-yard shot was just above the crossbar.

“We had all sorts of good chances and in this particular game we were probably a little unfortunate,” Burleigh said. “I think we created a lot more chances than we did Friday night (versus FAU). I felt pleased with the way we played and disappointed with the result.”

All-American Melanie Booth, who rejoined the Gator team Saturday in Nebraska after Canada completed World Cup play in China on Thursday, made her first appearance for Florida since the conclusion of the 2005 season when she subbed in to play left back in the 21^st minute. Booth sat out the 2006 collegiate season due to Canadian National Team commitments. She did make her presence known quickly, as the Cornhuskers were heading toward the Gator goal in the 25^th minute. Just when it looked like Aysha Jamani was going to take a clear shot at the goal from just inside the 18-yard box, Booth made a slide tackle to clear the ball. Another Gator made her return to the lineup Sunday, as junior All-American Ameera Abdullah made her first appearance since getting injured Sept. 7 versus USF.

“She’s (Booth) not a 100% at this point (due to travel fatigue), but to get a few minutes out of her was awesome,” Burleigh said. “It was also great to get Ameera (Abdullah) in the game.

The opening matches of the 2007 Southeastern Conference season are set to begin next weekend. Florida opens league play at Georgia (7-1, 0-0 SEC) on Friday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. (ET). The action for that match can be heard live on www.GatorZone.com and GatorVision subscribers can view the UF-UGA match when play begins at 7 p.m.