One of Nebraska’s best goal-scorers is coming back.
Senior winger Savanah Uveges applied for and has been granted a medical hardship to return to Nebraska for a sixth season in 2019, the university announced Thursday.
For her first three years in Lincoln, Uveges was sidelined more often than not. In her soccer career, the Bartlett, Illinois, native has endured four ACL tears. She did not make an appearance during her first three seasons. But in 2018, finally fully healthy, Uveges broke through.
She started all 21 games in 2018, recording eight goals (fifth-most in the Big Ten) and four assists. Her 20 points overall were tied for the most on the team (with senior striker Faith Carter) and sixth in the Big Ten. Uveges tallied at least one point in 11 of Nebraska's 21 games.
Before last fall, Uveges had 17 appearances and eight starts to her name, all coming in 2017. She scored her first career goal on Aug. 25, 2017 against South Dakota.
With her return in 2019, she could become an even larger part of the offense after Nebraska graduated Carter and her team-leading nine goals.
“First, I am happy for Savanah to be able to continue her soccer career here as she has persevered through four ACL reconstructions and really deserves another opportunity to play here,” coach John Walker said in a release. “She had an excellent season for us this past fall and I know that she has not reached her potential yet. Second, from a team standpoint, we will be getting back an All-Big Ten player with good leadership qualities and someone who is very passionate and committed to her development as a player. She will have a positive influence on the group and how they develop this spring also.”
Despite missing the 2018 NCAA Tournament, Nebraska’s outlook remains positive. Eight underclassmen played significant minutes for the Huskers last fall and, with Uveges returning, nine of 11 women to make at least 10 starts will be back.
The Huskers went 9-7-5 in 2018. In September, they were atop the Big Ten table and inside the RPI Top 25. A cold stretch offensively in October cost NU home-field advantage in the Big Ten tournament, though. Then a 2-0 loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten semifinals ended the Huskers’ season.
“I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to play with this team one more year,” Uveges said in a release. “We have some unfinished business to take care of in 2019 and this is the team to do it.”
Derek is a newbie on the Hail Varsity staff covering Husker athletics. In college, he was best known as ‘that guy from Twitter.’ He has covered a Sugar Bowl, a tennis national championship and almost everything in between (except an NCAA men’s basketball tournament game… *tears*). In his spare time, he can be found arguing with literally anyone about sports.
