Emma Stevens is always asked the same question: “So, why did you decide to come to Nebraska?”

The reporters usually sport quizzical looks, fully aware Stevens hails from Corona, Calif., an hour north of San Diego.

The reporters also know she had other options: the valedictorian of Santiago High, Stevens’ skill as a keeper led her to many accolades — including two all-state nominations and an invitation to the Nike 50 camp — and many suitors at the college level.

Yet she can be found every morning at 8 at Nebraska Soccer Field on the pitch with her fellow Cornhuskers.

And she’s tired of telling them why.

“I knew I didn’t want to stay home. I knew home,” Stevens said. “I wanted to be one of those few who got out of there.”

“I get this question all the time,” she said. “But really, I loved this place from day one — it’s like a family here. I can’t explain — but I couldn’t have gone anywhere else.”

Stevens, a redshirt freshman, was one of the more heralded recruits in recent Nebraska seasons — so good, in fact, she was able to play for the West Coast F.C. of the Women’s Premier Soccer League in the summer of 2009.

“Emma’s a phenomenally gifted keeper,” said Marty Everding, interim keeper coach. “She’s a delight to work with, so professional, and she may be the best goalie with the ball at her feet Nebraska has ever had.”

The best news for Nebraska’s fans: Stevens is the backup.

For now.

“This certainly isn’t a closed door,” Everding said. “The starting job could fluctuate on a game-by-game or week-by-week basis.”

But right now, senior Tara Macdonald is NU’s starting goalie.

Her path to the Huskers is less likely than Stevens’. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Macdonald faced Nebraska as a member of the Oklahoma Sooners in her first Big 12 Conference game.

But an OU coaching upheaval and her recruiter’s subsequent defection to NU led to Macdonald heading to Lincoln.

“It was weird coming here,” she said. “I was playing against Nebraska, and now I’m playing for them.”

“It’s all red and white, I guess,” she laughs. “Just different shades, really.”

Macdonald, who has been nursing a wrist injury — her latest ailment of many in her college career — took over for Stevens in the second game of the season after Stevens was red-carded early in the first half.

Macdonald has been strong in net, allowing just one goal, as Nebraska has won all four of her appearances by a combined 11-1 tally, including a 3-1 road win against a tough Indiana team on Saturday.

Her performance led to her winning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors last week.

“I credit that almost entirely to our defense,” Macdonald said. “There were games I don’t think I even needed to make a save.”

While the competition is fierce, it’s also extremely cordial.

“Right now, Tara is goalie, and I’m entirely behind it,” Stevens said.

“She’s been great in net for us. We both want the best for each other; the best for the team.”

As Nebraska prepares for this weekend’s Sun Devil Desert Classic in Tempe, Ariz., the team may not know who will be in the net. But they know one thing for sure: Whoever it is will have earned it.

“This competition is great for the team,” Everding said. “Emma brings out the best in Tara, and Tara in Emma. We have two competent keepers. That works for us.”