When the NCAA altered its rules in January to allow three full-time assistant coaches to various sports, the Nebraska soccer program duplicated the volleyball program and added a familiar face.
Former Husker Savannah Anderson-Baer (Uveges) was hired as Nebraska’s third full-time assistant coach on Monday, the program announced. Anderson-Baer arrived on the staff as a volunteer assistant earlier this year upon her retirement from professional soccer. In fact, she replaced former teammate Sam Areman in that volunteer coach role. Anderson-Baer now joins head coach John Walker’s staff that also involves Marty Everding and Ian Bridge.
Anderson-Baer, originally from Bartlett, Illinois, is a former three-time letter winner at Nebraska from 2017 to 2019. While battling through ACL and knee injuries in her career, she scored 11 goals and contributed four assists in 44 career appearances. She graduated in 2019 as a 10-time honor roll member and a two-time team captain. She is a full-time assistant effective ahead of the upcoming season.
Following her graduation from Nebraska, Anderson-Baer played multiple professional seasons. She first joined the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League, which also now employees former Husker Haley McCutcheon (Hanson) as a starting defender. Anderson-Baer then went to Germany to play for MSV Duisberg. She retired after a season there and returned to Nebraska to juggle coaching with life as a medical assistant. She became a cardio-pulmonary intern at St. Elizabeth hospital in Lincoln. Her coaching career includes time at Sporting Nebraska and with Soccer Without Borders as a volunteer coach in Nicaragua.
The Nebraska soccer team starts camp next month and kicks off its season in earnest on August 8 when the Huskers host South Dakota State in an exhibition.
Other Nebraska soccer notes
Former Husker great Brittany Timko Baxter will be inducted into the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame this year. She played a prominent role in the Huskers’ Elite 8 runs and rivalry against No. 1 Notre Dame before going on to play in multiple World Cups for her native Canada. She recently sat down with Jessica Coody for an episode of Sports Nightly on the Huskers Radio Network to discuss memories and the honor. More coverage of that is on the way at Hail Varsity.
The aforementioned McCutcheon is the only former Husker still active in the NWSL. So far she’s started 13 matches while anchoring the backline for the Orlando Pride. She’s played 12 complete games in that time, logging 1,164 minutes. In that time she’s tallied 29 clearances, 12 interceptions and five blocks. McCutcheon also has one goal, a stunning header against San Diego back in April. She came up the flank as San Diego tried clearing the ball away from goal, the Pride intercepted and Viviana Villacorta sent a cross to the edge of the box for McCutcheon, who was coming on as a wing back. The former Husker sent a lofting header to the far post, which rainbowed over the goalkeeper and in for a goal.
This is the ACFC Save of the Match for #LAvHOU.
45’+ | @Paigenielsen #AngelCityFC | @PNCBank pic.twitter.com/cX6mpCHboc— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) June 26, 2023
Lincoln native Paige Nielsen is also a regular contributor in the NWSL for Angel City FC. The former third-round draft pick and record holder at Lincoln Southeast has started in 11 games this season. Nielsen recently garnered internet buzz after making a desperation tackle against Houston. Nielsen scored her first goal of the season earlier this month when a corner kick from Clarisse Le Bihan found her in the box with plenty of space. The all-time scoring Knight slotted it away to equalize against San Diego in the 69th minute.
Goals That Give
🎯 Paige Nielsen goal
⚽️ Clarisse Le Bihan assist#AngelCityFC | @DoorDash pic.twitter.com/ih8GKybtqG— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) June 18, 2023
