Oct. 15, 2004
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - No. 24 Illinois beat Purdue, 2-1, Friday night at a cold Illinois Soccer Stadium, which was filled with 712 fans under the lights. The Fighting Illini provided the game-winner in the 70th minute off a corner kick goal, which was headed in by Sarah Brown, her first of the season. The corner kick assist was attributed to the Illini's leading scorer, Tara Hurless.
The loss dropped Purdue back to .500 at 7-7 (3-5 Big Ten). Illinois snapped a two-match losing streak with the victory, bringing its record to 11-4 (5-3 Big Ten).
Illinois struck first in the 20th minute on a goal from Jessica Bayne, her eighth of the season. The forward was assisted by Ella Masar and Christen Karniski. The goal was set up by a corner kick, which Purdue had trouble getting back across the midfield stripe. The Illinois attackers moved the ball out to the far right and then back across the 18-yard strip, where Bayne made her move towards the net. Her shot from the left side was a diagonal, which sailed into the lower right corner past starter Lauren Mason.
The Boilermakers came right back with a goal of their own, which was blasted in by freshman Parrissa Eyorokon. The goal was scored after Illinois goalkeeper Leisha Alcia had trouble handling a Kim Comisar shot, giving Eyorokon the chance to capitalize from inside the goal box. It appeared that Alcia had caught the ball on the fly, but spilled the ball onto the ground as she brought it down. As the Illinois defenders dropped back towards midfield, Eyorokon was free to make the easy score.
The goal was the third this season for Eyorokon, and her first since a, 3-2, win over Miami (Ohio).
Purdue's defense caught several breaks during the first half. In the second minute, a Hurless goal was called back for offsides. The Boilermakers lucked out again in the ninth minute when a Christine Sinak blast was saved by Meghan Dybvig; Mason had left the net to stop Hurless' second shot of the match. For Purdue, it was its fifth team save of the season.
Midway through the first period, a Masar cross from deep on the left side just missed Hurless who was sprinting into the goal box, with only Mason to beat.
The Boilermakers also survived two free kicks taken deep in their territory. The first was headed towards midfield by and errant Illini player, and the second was blocked down by a Boilermaker defensive wall.
Purdue and Illinois looked evenly matched on both sides the ball in the first half, with Illinois holding a slight lead in shots, 6-5. Both goalkeepers made two saves.
Illinois kept up its attack early into the second half, but Purdue's defense responded accordingly. A direct free kick taken 30-yards back was deflected back by Zarinah Blockton, but before the Boilermakers could push the ball back into Illini territory, second half goalkeeper Maureen Carey was forced to make a pair of outstanding saves. Carey's first save was off a Ridgeway shot taken from the right side, and then tipped saved a Bayne shot over the crossbar. Purdue then cleared the ensuing corner kick.
The Boilermakers, who managed to clear seven corners, were outshot in the second half 11-5, and for the match 17-10
Despite suffering the loss, her first in over a month, Carey exited the match with two saves. Carey had been riding a five-match winning streak, dating back to the win over the RedHawks; she also had not allowed since that Sept. 10 match, a span of of over 321 minutes.
Purdue's next match is Sunday at 1 p.m. against Northwestern. The Boilermakers are 1-1 all time vs. the Wildcats in Evanston.