Oct. 26, 2001
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Purdue women's soccer team defeated the Hoosiers tonight, 1-0, on the road for their fourth Big Ten victory of the year. With the win, the Boilermakers clinch fifth place for both the regular season and a Big Ten Tournament seed and improve to 8-5-3 (4-3-3 Big Ten), while Indiana falls to 6-7-1 (3-6-1 Big Ten).
With the victory, the Boilermakers also even the Titan Series between the two interstate rivals, 3-3, while shutting out the Hoosiers for the first time this season.
"Today I thought we were organized and didn't give them many chances, all while creating our own chances," said Purdue head coach Rob Klatte. "Several times, we were just unlucky not to finish the shots that hit the crossbar or post. I'm super happy for Emily (Whetter) with her goal and I thought that the fact that this was the first time this year that they've been shutout, shows just how strong our team defense is. It's something that we really stress and it shows in games like today where they did have a couple good chances, but we were able to eliminate them.
"Overall, it comes down to the fact that you've got to finish the chances you are given or create. Today we did that and IU did not. Now, we've got to get ready for Butler on Sunday. If we want a chance for a NCAA bid, it's a must-win game."
On a bitterly cold and windy night, both the Boilermakers and the Hoosiers started the game sluggishly. However, as they warmed up, the Boilermakers quickly took control and kept the ball in their end of the field for the better part of the first half.
Purdue's first score came at the 28:45 mark as sophomore forward Annette Kent dished a cross from the right side to sophomore forward Emily Whetter, who had just entered the game less than 20 seconds earlier. The goal was Whetter's first of the year and the assist was Kent's first of the year, as well.
The game continued to a halftime tie, despite a last-minute chance for the Boilermakers with a free kick off to the right side about 30 yards out.
In the second half, the Boilermakers came out strong, as they hit the crossbar and post on three different occassions during two very intense sequences. In the first set of attempts, junior Kelli Merritt recorded two shots with sophomore Courtney Coppedge and junior Elise Berry each adding a rapid-fire-shot in the mix.
The Hoosiers continued to play a game of catch-up, as most of their time was, again, spent in the Boilermakers' end of the field.
Freshman Lauren Sesselmann returned to the game in the second half after a head injury early-on to record two very close shots, one of which she smashed off the crossbar.
The Cream and Crimson were able to gather their closest chance of the game to tie it up when they pulled Purdue goalkeeper Elizabeth Boldt out of the box and had the ball on the end line. Purdue defender Elise Berry, however, showed her leadership and stepped up to clear the ball.
The Boilermakers outshot the Hoosiers 16-7, earning 11 of those in the second half, and evened the corner kicks at five apiece.
In the goal, senior Elizabeth Boldt improved her record to 4-4-3 and her shutouts to 2.5. She tallied three saves on the evening and improved her goals-against average to 0.77.
The Boilermakers will return to the field when they host Butler on Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Varsity Soccer Complex at 1 p.m. It will be Purdue's final home game of the regular season and is Senior Day.
-P-