Nov. 4, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Meghan Dybvig played in her 84th career match Thursday night, giving her the all-time record for most games played as a Boilermaker. Unfortunately, there will be no 85th match for the senior, as the tournament host Ohio State upended the Gold and Black, 2-0, at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
The defeat closed a bittersweet week for Dybvig, who was named first-team Big Ten at Wednesday night's conference soccer banquet.
"I think I can still physically play, but I'm planning to hang up the cleats, so I'll never know if I can play better than I did this season," said Dybvig, the team's captain for the last two seasons. "After the match, everyone was crying and I was doing a good job of holding it together, but as I started to walk off the field, I started to remember this great season and I lost it."
Purdue's 2004 campaign ends at 10-10, giving the program five-straight seasons of finishing at .500 or better. Ohio State (14-3-3) moves on to Friday night's semifinal match to face either Michigan or Wisconsin.
In other first-round matches from Thursday, top-seeded Penn State shut out Indiana, 2-0, and Illinois beat Northwestern, 5-0.
Ohio State has dominated its all-time series with Purdue, winning eight of ten matches. The Buckeyes have defeated the Boilermakers three times at the Big Ten Tournament, including Thursday night.
"I'm disappointed for my seniors, because they will not be able to play another match, in this sport, which is a huge part of their lives," said head coach Rob Klatte. "The team came together at the end, and it was humbling to see the amount of support that everyone gave to another.
"At the end of the match, the team awarded the game ball to Chelsea Ferrie, someone who hasn't played a lot this season, but who has given an endless amount of support to her teammates. I am extremely proud of this team and I'm blessed to coach them."
Aided by a strong northwest wind at their back, the Buckeyes had an easy time moving the ball upfield in the first half, outshooting Purdue,16-5. OSU struck first in the fourth minute with a goal from Lara Dickenmann, on assists from Lisa Grubb and Colleen Hoban. It was the ninth goal of the season for the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year.
Dickenmann nailed her 10th goal 15 minutes later, and was again assisted by Hoban from the right side. The rookie's shot caused starting goalkeeper Maureen Carey to make a stab for the ball, and the senior came up gripping her right hand. Carey was replaced by Lauren Mason, who went on to complete the game in the net.
Mason came up with two big saves during her first half stint, which lasted 25 minutes, saving bullets fired by Paige Harrison and Taylor Smith. She also left the net to stuff a shot taken by Grubb.
Despite allowing the quick goals, the Boilermakers' defense had some moments of brilliance. Twice in the first half, Purdue made team saves off OSU corner kicks; Kristin Lichtenberg made the first save, heading the ball off the goal line. Minutes later, freshman Shauna Stapleton saved a header from Melissa Miller.
Lichtenberg also was credited with blocking a Hoban kick taken from inside the goal box.
Offensively, in the first half, Purdue wasn't presented with many opportunities to score, and the first three corner kicks the Boilermakers earned were cleared out by the Buckeyes.
Purdue's fourth corner of the first period was bounced around by a few people during the final minute, but none of the Boilermakers were able to take a clear shot.
"OSU is a good team, they are all talented and technically gifted," said Klatte. "Through the first 20 minutes, they were just unbelieveable - I just can't explain how good they looked. Their attackers were dangerous and mobile, and were organized defensively. We worked our way back into the match at the end of each half, but just couldn't put much together; we didn't get any quality shots."
In the second half, Purdue hoped to utilize the wind to its advantage, but the attackers still had trouble shaking the Buckeye defenders. The Boilermakers were again outshot in the second period, 10-5.
Purdue's best second half scoring opportunities came at the midway point, when it was awarded three corner kicks within a minute. Unfortunately, the first two missed their intended targets and the third was punched out by OSU goalkeeper Emily Haynam.
Within the last 10 minutes, Purdue got in close, but Rebecca Robison's and Arin Yarc's shots were picked off by Haynam, and a Crystal Rivas blast sailed high.
The Buckeye's senior netminder finished the contest with six saves, while facing 10 shots. Ohio State kept receiving good looks in the second half, as Mason came through with four saves.
Like Purdue, OSU's best second-half chances were off corner kicks. The Buckeyes had two good chances to convert their first corner of the half, but Danielle Dietrich's shot was knocked down by Mason, and the second attempt taken by Megan Stickler was blocked by Kristin Hetzel.
After shaking off this loss, there will be nothing but optimism for the Boilermakers in the offsesaon. Coming back to the fold will be Lauren Sesselmann, Sharon Pagorek and Shannon Bradbury, who were all forced to redshirt this season due to injury. They will be joining a host of freshmen, who succeeded this season despite being thrown into the fire. Among those returning to compete and start will be Big Ten All-Freshman team selection Parrissa Eyorokon, midfielder Shauna Stapleton and defenders Kira Bilecky, Kristin Hetzel, Christy Riggle and Zarinah Blockton.
"Purdue will have a great team next season," said Dybvig. "The freshmen will know what to expect, and the girls who were injured this season will come back real strong. I look forward to cheering for them from the stands and watching them win."