Aug. 28, 2005
By Steve Harris
Purdue Sports Information
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - If only the Boilermakers had been this accurate Friday against Cal Poly, then they, and not the Mustangs, would have left the Varsity Soccer Complex as Boilermaker Challenge Cup champions.
But it was Cal Poly carrying off the hardware, after blanking Detroit, 3-0; meanwhile Purdue had to settle for third-place with its 4-0 win over DePaul. The Boilermakers (1-1) lead the all-time series against DePaul, 6-0.
The Boilermaker offensive and defensive units were just as effective Sunday as they were Friday, with one big difference - their shots hit the net. Of the 25 shots recorded, 16 of them were on goal; a success rate of 64 percent.
Early on it appeared Sunday's match would follow the same script as Friday's, as two corner kicks, a direct free kick and a Lauren Sesselmann header all missed their target within the first 20 minutes.
Purdue's luck changed in the 26th minute when freshman attacker Jessica Okoroafo scored her first collegiate goal on an assist from defender Parrissa Eyorokon.
After Purdue successfully defended a DePaul free kick deep in its own zone, the ball was passed over to Eyorokon, who moved up the left sideline before pushing it forward to a charging Okoroafo. The rookie took control past the midfield stripe, then fought off a defender to defeat DePaul goalkeeper Cara LaRocca inside the goal box.
Purdue kept up the pressure, scoring again in the 32nd and 43rd minutes. The second goal was a Sesselmann header from inside the goal box off a Kim Comisar free kick. Comisar also provided the assist for the Kalie Grambeau score, which came nine minutes later.
Comisar, a native of West Chester, Ohio, was one of Purdue's most accurate shots this weekend, putting five of her seven shots on goal. Her two-assist game is the second of her career (vs. Indiana on Oct. 24, 2003) and tied the team record shared by 12 players.
Purdue capped the offensive fireworks with a Jill Sarbaugh goal in the 71st minute. Jayme-Lee Biamonte initiated the goal with a midfield pass to Grambeau, who dribbled the ball to the end line before crossing it over to Sarbaugh.
Sarbaugh, who led the team with five shots on goal, battled through a pair of defenders in the goal box to punch in the third score of her career.
Sesselmann's goal was the 26th of her career, putting her five behind Annette Kent (2000-03) for the most scores in team history. Grambeau's assist and goal were the first points of her career.
The four goals scored by Purdue were its most since a 4-1 win at Iowa on Oct. 5, 2003. The five assists were its most since providing 10 during a 8-0 win against Evansville on Sept. 14, 2003.
Junior Lauren Mason had an excellent game in between the pipes, finishing the contest with seven saves. The team also recorded its own save in the second minute off a shot from Julianne Sitch.
Mason was forced to make five of her seven saves in the second half, as head coach Rob Klatte inserted a host of defensive substitutes with a commanding 3-0 lead. Mason began the second frame with a leaping tip save of a Lauren Spacht shot; the ensuing corner kick was cleared by Kira Bilecky.
In the 88th minute, Mason preserved her first shutout of the season, cutting down a Jennifer Dyer blast from six-yards back, then wrapped up a Katie Kiene shot at the left post as Lea Hill came charging forward in hopes of a rebound.
Prior to today, Mason had not recorded a complete game shutout since blanking the Hoosiers in the first round of the 2003 Big Ten Tournament, 1-0. Last season, she and Maureen Carey combined for seven shutout victories.
Also making key defensive plays late in the match were Amy Burrell, who headed out a Erin Walter cross, and Christy Riggle, who wrestled the ball from an attacking Sitch.
Purdue looks to extend its winning streak this weekend at the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge. The Boilermakers battle at Iowa State Friday night at 7 p.m., then travel to Missouri Sunday for a 1 p.m. matinee.
Boilermaker Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team
Cal Poly: Sharon Day, Sierra Simmons, Jenny Wesser, Leah Morales and Heidi McQuilty.
Detroit: Allison Epple, Melanie Slusher, Allison Bullard
Purdue: Rebecca Robison, Jill Sarbaugh
DePaul: Cara LaRocco
Offensive MVP: Sharon Day, Cal Poly
Defensive MVP: Sierra Simmons, Cal Poly
Team Champions: Cal Poly Mustangs