Oct. 22, 2004
Seventh Heaven Boilermakers clinch fifth-straight postseason berth
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Rivalry games don't get more important or dramatic than this.
With a playoff berth and the Golden Boot Trophy on the line, the Boilermakers blanked the Indiana Hoosiers, 1-0, Friday afternoon at the Varsity Soccer Complex. The game-winner was booted in by Rebecca Robison in the 56th minute.
The win not only gave Purdue (8-8, 4-6 Big Ten) rights to the Golden Boot for a fifth straight year, but also the No. 7 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The Boilermakers will face host and No. 2 seed Ohio State in the first round, Thursday, Nov. 4 at 4:30 p.m.
The loss dropped Indiana (8-6-2-, 3-5-2 Big Ten) to the No. 8 spot in the bracket. The Hoosiers will have to face the top-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions.
"From the perspective of the soccer program, we did not want to break the tradition of being a Big Ten title contender," said head coach Rob Klatte. "We did everything we could today, and handled everything we could, to make sure we got the win and seventh seed. This win also gave us a much needed boost heading into our three final regular season games."
Purdue entered the match needing a win or a tie, or a Michigan State loss in order to clinch its fifth consecutive appearance at the Big Ten Tournament. However, the Spartans did not hold up their end of the bargain, beating Michigan, 2-1.
Knowing the result from East Lansing at halftime, the Boilermakers were faced with three options: beat Indiana and get the seventh seed, tie and accept the No. 8 seed, or lose and stay home.
Determined to win, Purdue came out attacking in the opening minutes of the second half, but Jill Sarbaugh saw her attempt saved by an IU defender standing in the goal box, and Shauna Stapleton's rebound blast was blocked down.
After derailing an Indiana corner kick attempt, Purdue got the ball back and quickly moved the ball down the right side with Sarbaugh leading the way. At the 18-yard line, Sarbaugh crossed the ball back to the middle of the field, where it was touched by both Lori Arnold and Parrissa Eyorokon, before Robison took control and blasted in a diagonal from 15-yards back.
The goal was Robison's second of the season. Eyorokon and Arnold were credited with the assists.
Although Robison was credited with the game-winner, it was the team's defensive effort that clinched the victory.
Purdue's defensive line of Kira Bilecky, Kristin Lichtenberg, Zarinah Blockton and Kristin Hetzel continually managed to interrupt IU's passing lines, deflected shots and cleared corner kicks. By the end of the match, the Boilermakers had survived 17 shots and six corners.
"All of four of the defenders came up huge for me today," said winning goalkeeper Maureen Carey. "They stopped IU on the corners, would not let their attackers get around on the outsides, and jammed them in the middle. We've worked so hard all season long to function as one unit and we accomplished that today."
If the ball moved past the Boilermaker `D' line, Carey was there to make the save. The senior finished the match with six saves, giving her a complete game shutout.
"I made two saves in the first half, but I don't even remember how I made them," said Carey. "I just dove, hoped for the best and caught the ball."
Purdue finished the match with 15 shots, forcing Indiana goalkeeper Lauren Fabbro to make five saves. Stapleton and Jayme-Lee Biamonte tied for the team in lead in shots with three.
"What I'm most happy with was our ability to play the ball in behind their team," said Klatte. "We stepped up and pressed, won balls early, which forced IU to go 70-80 yards towards the goal."
The win improved Purdue's all-time record against Indiana to 7-1-0, including playoff matches. The Hoosiers have not beaten the Boilermakers since 1999.
Prior to their appearance in Columbus, Ohio in two weeks, the Boilermakers have to play three non-conference opponents: Indiana State, Oakland and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Purdue's first test at Indiana State is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m.