Oct. 21, 2001
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's soccer team tied Big Ten opponent Illinois today, 1-1, at the Varsity Soccer Complex. It was the Boilermakers' second tie of the weekend, as they move to 7-5-3 (3-3-3 Big Ten). The Illini stand at 7-6-1 (5-3-1 Big Ten).
"This weekend we played two very hard games," said Purdue head coach Rob Klatte. "I thought that we did play both games well, especially today's second half. I know that I always say it, but we did a great job of creating chances and, today, we were truly unlucky not to have found a final goal - whether it was a keeper save or it hit the post.
"Overall, we had a very solid performance and our team worked excessively hard with two 120 minute games in three days. I'm very proud of them, but, ultimately, none of us are truly happy with two ties rather than two wins."
The Boilermakers started out the game very slowly and it looked as if the Illini would come out on top, using their athleticism to full advantage over an already tired and banged up Boilermaker squad.
Illinois was able to capitalize with a shot that pulled Purdue goalkeeper Elizabeth Boldt out of her box before they put it in behind her at the 24:43 mark. Tara Hurless was credited with the Illini score off of a pass from Tiffani Walker.
The game went into a 1-0 Illinois advantage at halftime but Purdue came out from the break with a new fire.
After being outshot 6-2 in the first half, the Boilermakers quickly fired off seven close shots compared to Illinois' four before making good on their eighth. At the 82:38 mark, freshman Lauren Sesselmann tallied her eighth goal of the season on a pass from sophomore Emily Whetter to keep Purdue's hopes alive.
Purdue tallied three more shots in only seven minutes, but the game was sent to the first overtime period.
In the first overtime, Purdue recorded five shots and four corner kicks but the game was sent into a second overtime.
Then, in the second OT, sophomore Courtney Coppedge nailed a shot high and hard, but the Illinois keeper was able to get a piece of it and send it out for a Purdue corner kick. Then three minutes later, Illinois' Tara Schuling was awarded a yellow card and the Boilermakers were allowed a free kick from 25 yards out.
The ball was sent in and sophomore Jennie Moppert headed it just right of the right post.
Purdue made another attempt on a breakaway shot with Sesselmann headed down field. She kicked and it hit the post. Then, 30 seconds later, Sesselmann got ahold of the ball again and hit the post for a second time.
Continuing an exciting game, the Boilermakers tallied two more shots that were just wide of the goal on both sides. But the game would end a 1-1 tie for the second time this weekend at the Varsity Soccer Complex.
The Old Gold and Black will return to action on Friday, Oct. 26, when they travel to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers in the final game of the Big Ten season. Game time is 7 p.m. and it will also be the first soccer meeting for the Titan Series with Purdue and Indiana.
-P-