OMAHA, Neb. - Omaha women's soccer captain Charley Kort and her teammates will appreciate a short road trip after their bus returned in the early-morning hours Monday following a draw in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

For Kort, the trip carries extra meaning with the chance to play in her hometown. Kort, a Lincoln Southwest graduate, and the Mavericks will play at Nebraska's Barbara Hibner Soccer Stadium at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.

It will be familiar surroundings for Kort.

"My family will be there, my old club coach and high school coaches will be there," the Maverick junior midfielder said. "It will be nice to see a lot of people and recognize a lot of faces, if they're rooting for us or not. It will be nice to have that support."

There will be familiar faces on the pitch, as well.

Two of Kort's former Lincoln Southwest teammates are on Nebraska's roster, including midfielder Isabel Kiser, while a few of her former club teammates also suit up for the Huskers.

"It will be fun to see her on the other side," Kort said of Kiser. "I always root for players I used to play with, but it will be fun to compete against them, as well."

While growing up, Kort occasionally went to games at Barbara Hibner Soccer Stadium. She said she also attended camps there, "but I love where I'm at and I love Omaha."

It will be Kort's first collegiate game played in Lincoln. Omaha is off to a 1-1-1 start, while Nebraska is 1-1-2.

"Being a Nebraska kid, it's always fun to play the Creighton's and the Nebraska's," Kort said. "It will be hard since it's an away game in Lincoln and there will be a crowd, but I think it will be a chance to show we've gotten a lot better."

Kort was an Omaha freshman in 2024, but the game in Lincoln that season was called off because of weather. Kort started every game last year, including a 2-1 loss to Nebraska at Caniglia Field in a game played in front of 1,610 fans.

Nebraska never trailed in last year's game, taking a 2-0 lead 35 minutes into the match. 

This season, Kort has been part of a stingy Omaha defense.

The Mavericks have allowed one goal in their five matches. That included two shutouts in exhibitions and two clean sheets away from home.

"We returned a lot of our defenders from last year and we brought in a lot of good freshmen who are able to contribute," Kort said. "I feel like last year we learned a lot. We've been able to develop more as defenders."

"Last year we conceded more goals than we wanted to. The focus was to kind of clean that up."

Head Coach Tim Walters said the team has dealt with some injuries to its defenders, but he knows the importance of having Kort healthy and on the pitch.

Kort played center forward last season, but this year she's moved back to her more natural position in the midfield.

"In a lot of ways, Charley is the heartbeat of our team. She's gotten so much better as far as the work rate she puts in for us," Walters said. "Her ability on the ball is something not a lot of players have. She does a really good job dictating games for us."

Nebraska earned a 1-1 draw with No. 8 Notre Dame last week, so Walters knows his defense will be tested Thursday.

"Nebraska is a good chance for us to get better. They'll challenge us in a lot of different ways," Walters said.

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