Oct. 17, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - Purdue dropped a 2-1 decision to Northwestern Sunday afternoon. The game-winner was scored by the Wildcats' Tabitha Lowery in the 86th minute, as she dribbled up the goal line and swiped it past Lauren Mason into the lower left corner of the net.
The loss dropped the Boilermakers' record to 7-8, 3-6 in the Big Ten. They are still two points ahead of Michigan State for the final playoff spot in the Big Ten Conference tournament. The Spartans played a non-conference match against Oakland on Sunday.
Next Friday, Purdue play hosts to IU and Michigan State plays Michigan, in each teams' respective conference finale. The Boilermakers need a win or a Spartan loss to clinch their fifth postseason berth in seven seasons.
Purdue scored first in the 18th minute when Meghan Dybvig punched the ball in from five-yards back. It was the senior captain's second score of the season. Dybvig received a cross from freshman Jill Sarbaugh from the left side, collected the ball in the goal box and rifled it past Wildcats' starter Whitney Jones.
Shots were few and far between in the first half, as both teams combined for five blasts, with neither Jones or Purdue starter Maureen Carey making a save.
Towards the end of the first half, the Wildcats had a pair of scoring chances derailed. A shot from Molly Maxfield hit the cross bar, and later Purdue cleared out a Northwestern direct free kick taken deep in their defensive territory.
Northwestern kept pressing into the second half and scored their equalizer in the 50th minute on an unassisted blast from Ashleigh Garmon. The senior forward hooked it into the upper right corner from 25-yards back over Mason's reach.
The Purdue offense turned up the pressure with the match knotted at 1-1, but could not shake the Wildcat defenders. Shauna Stapleton was intercepted on a breakaway in the 74th minute, and ýDybvig suffered the same misfortune three minutes later while crossing the 18-yard box. Stapleton again was tackled inside goal box late in the match, however, no foul was called.
Parrissa Eyorokon had one of the team's best looks of the second half, but her shot rattled the left post.
Purdue's Friday match at home against Indiana starts at 3 p.m. The Big Ten regular season finale also will serve as Senior Day; Lori Arnold, Maureen Carey, Meghan Dybvig, Crystal Rivas and Arin Yarc will be honored during pregame ceremonies.