Sept. 18, 2005
By Cliff Williams
Purdue Sports Information
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermakers completed a historic week at the Varsity Soccer Complex Sunday with a 3-1 decision over 24th-ranked Kansas (4-3-1). Purdue, which started the week 1-4, is now 4-4 heading into Big Ten conference play.
Purdue's success on the home pitch this past week was unprecedented on many levels. Not only did the Boilermakers finish the week 3-0, but they knocked off two nationally ranked opponents (Nebraska and Kansas) and won all three contests in come-from-behind fashion. Never in the eight-year history of Boilermaker soccer had they knocked off back-to-back ranked opponents in one weekend, nor had they earned this many consecutive comeback victories within one month.
The Purdue team of today is much different from the one that was on display two weeks ago, a group that had a penchant for giving away close games and being overrun by more physical opponents. But beginning with the second half of Tuesday's game vs. Butler, Purdue has been playing with a level of ferociousness that hasn't been seen at the Varsity Soccer Complex in quite sometime.
"This was a great win, which should get us back into the national soccer rankings," said head coach Rob Klatte. "I think the way we took our corners made a difference in the game, but I wasn't too happy with our foul count. We haven't been a very physical team this year, but we need to be more careful with our fouls."
Purdue commited 14 fouls to Kansas' 13, one of which led to the Jawhawks' lone goal.
The Kansas goal was scored off a Jessica Bush free kick taken at the 18-yard line. Bush's shot hit the Purdue defensive wall, but the Boilermakers could not clear and the ball was eventually scooped by Lacey Novak, who slotted it over to Afton Sauer, for her first score of the season. Prior to the Jawhawks' score in the 42nd minute, Purdue dominated most of the first half, using its speed and footwork to maintain possession.
Purdue responded quickly to the Kansas score with a a Kim Comisar corner kick goal less than two minutes later. Comisar's kick sailed into the net untouched to knot the game at 1-1; a goal that matched the look of her corner kick goal score in her team's 3-0 exhibition win over WIsconsin-Milwaukee. Sunday's goal gave Comisar the team points lead with eight (two goals, four assists).
The Boilermakers entered halftime with an 11-6 advantage in shots, but the Jayhawks would not go away easily in the second frame. The Kansas crew left its bench determined not to suffer the same fate as Nebraska, pushing its way upfield to take three clean shots within the first five minutes. However, Purdue goalkeeper Lauren Mason once again proved to be a factor outside of the net, charging out to make a stop on Nicole Braman. Midway through the second half Mason made a ground save off a Kansas corner kick. In the closing minutes, Mason jumped on a ball near the right side of the net with Kansas' Caroline Smith being trapped by two Boilermaker defenders.
Mason finished the match with three saves, giving her 35 for the season.
The Jayhawks also were given three consecutive chances to score off corner kicks, but failed to make a conversion to take the lead. The first two kicks were pushed over the backline by a Boilermaker defender, while the third was headed out by Amber Henkle.
The clear by Henkle led to the Boilermakers' game-winner, which was provided by a Jordyn Shaffer penalty kick. Freshman Jessica Okoroafo, who has three goals this season, was on her way to scoring a fourth when she was plowed over by Sauer in the Kansas goal box. Sauer received a yellow card, while Shaffer received cheers after drilling the ball past Kansas substitute goalkeeper, Erin Ferguson, into the lower right corner.
Purdue had a chance to put the game away 10 minutes later when it received another penalty kick, but Okoroafo's shot sailed to the far left of the net. Another try for an insurance goal was nullified after Jill Sarbaugh's blast hit the crossbar and no Boilermaker could put away the rebound. Kansas responded with two crisp blasts, but a Bush shot sailed high and a Holly Gault attempt went wide right.
The Boilermakers scored their third and final goal while trying to kill the clock during the last two minutes. Moving the ball upfield, Parrissa Eyorokon circled around a defender and spotted Sarbaugh breaking through on the left side. Eyorokon crossed the ball over to Sarbaugh as she passed into the goal box, where she one-timed it past Ferguson into the center of the net. The score was Sarbaugh's second of the season.
Julie Hanley started in goal for Kansas, played the first 45 minutes and allowed one goal, while making three saves. Ferguson allowed both second-half goals in receiving her first loss of the season. The Boilermakers' peppered the Jayhawk netminder tandem with 21 shots, while Kansas shot 16 towards Mason, including 10 in the second half.
Purdue's next game is its Big Ten opener at Minnesota, which is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff. After playing in Minneapolis, the Boilermakers have to fly across the conference and play at No. 2 Penn State Sunday at 1 p.m.