Sept. 17, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - There have been two constants at the Varsity Soccer Complex this season: great weather and dramatic one -goal victories. It was the same story Friday afternoon as Purdue topped Iowa, 1-0, in the Big Ten season opener for both clubs.
With crystal blue skies overhead and temperatures in the low 70's, Purdue improved its record to 5-2 (1-0 Big Ten) after sophomore defender Kristin Lichtenberg headed in her second goal of the season. Iowa's record dropped to 0-4-1 (0-1 Big Ten).
The goal was scored off a Kim Comisar corner kick in the 64th minute. The assist from Comisar was Purdue's first in four matches.
"I couldn't have asked for a better service from Kim," said Lichtenberg, who won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors on Aug. 30. "It's seems like we've been practicing corners all week. It was a great kick, and I'm thankful I got a piece of it."
With the team receiving many corner kick opportunities over the past two matches, head coach Rob Klatte dedicated a lot of practice time to corner kick service and execution.
"We need to become more dangerous on the corners, because we're receiving a number of chances per game," said Klatte, whose team is a perfect 5-0 at home this season. "Successful corner kicks are a combination of a quality service and finding someone brave enough to stick their head into traffic. Comisar nailed a cracker of a hit, which was driven near post, and Lichtenberg is simply fantastic in the air."
Lichtenberg was also solid on defense, as she and her `D'-line colleagues limited the Hawkeyes to 13 shots, six of which were on goal. The defense also was responsible for two blocked shots and three cleared corner kicks.
The Hawkeyes' offense received few opportunities to score. Their best chance came in the match's opening minutes when forward Kelsie Full nearly broke the crossbar on her blast from 15-yards out.
Purdue starting goalkeeper Lauren Mason and reserve Maureen Carey combined for six saves, with each making three.
Mason was blitzed late in the first half by Melissa Kaetterhenry and Danielle Oswald, but midfielder Rebecca Robison slid in to stop Kaetterhenry's attempt near the top of the goal box; Mason picked off Oswald seconds later from inside the 18-yard line.
Carey was challenged once in the second half, with Jamie Maltman kicking right into the netminder's hands twice in the 55th minute.
The Purdue offense launched over 20 shots for a third consecutive match, but like Iowa, had difficulty converting opportunities into goals. Nearly the entire roster was victimized by wide shots, but Iowa goalkeeper Britta Vogele also gave Purdue's attackers fits with her five saves.
The Iowa defense also was credited with a team save.
"I was really happy with our attacking and the mobility of our outside midfielders and defensive backs," said Klatte. "One of the challenges Sunday will be to replicate this effort with 90 minutes already in our legs. We made sure to make a lot of substitutions, in order to give our players some needed rest."
Purdue continues its Big Ten slate with a home match against Minnesota Sunday at 1 p.m. The Boilermakers blanked the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis last season, 2-0.
Today's Iowa match will air tonight at 10 p.m. on The Purdue Channel (B-TV channel 15, Insight cable 5) and again on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. Soccer radio voices Steve Hall and Andrew Staley handle the broadcast.