Sept. 23, 2005
ST. PAUL, Minn. - When Jessica Okoroafo posted the fastest 40-yard dash in the history of the Purdue soccer program this summer in training camp, no one could have predicted that it would to lead to such early-season success.
Okoroafo netted her fourth game-winning goal of the season, her third in two weeks, leading the Boilermakers (5-4, 1-0 Big Ten) to a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-4-2, 0-1 Big Ten) Friday night in the conference opener for both clubs. Okoroafo scored just four minutes after the Gophers had come back to knot the game at 1-1 early in the second period.
Kalie Grambeau popped the ball forward to the sprinting Okoroafo, who darted past a pair of defenders and lofted the ball perfectly above the head of Minnesota goalkeeper Molly Schneider. For Grambeau, it was her second assist of the season.
"Jessica worked her tail off tonight, she was our workhorse," said Purdue head coach Rob Klatte. "She provided great pressure for us up front, was dangerous with the ball, and broke down their defenders. This was easily her best game of the season, and at the rate she's going, she'll score a lot of goals this season."
After Purdue took its second and final lead in the 54th minute, the defense hung tough, limiting the Gophers to just six second half shots. Minnesota's lone threat in the closing minutes was a Becky Dellaria breakaway blast that sailed wide of the net. With 1:20 left on the clock Minnesota received a free kick deep in the Purdue defensive zone, but were called for offsides, and a final second desperation attempt by Lindsey Schwartz was off center.
Purdue also struggled to pick up an insurance goal, as the team was held to just five shots in the second period. The Boilermakers best looks were a Jayme-Lee Biamonte shot from 10-yards back that rolled left, and a Rebecca Robison bullet that just missed the upper left corner.
"Minnesota is much better than they have been in the last few years," said Klatte. "They have more heart and are more driven. It was hard for us to play here, but we were able to solve what they were trying to do."
With the victory, Purdue raised its all-time record against the Golden Gophers to 5-3, with the Boilermakers winning the last five matches.
Purdue quickly silenced the Robbie Stadium record crowd of 1,751 in the sixth minute when Lauren Sesselmann connected with Shauna Stapleton for the match's first goal. Sesselmann controlled the ball deep in the left corner, then dodged past a defender before dropping a pass back to Stapleton, standing within the six-yard box. Stapleton's second goal of the season was a wide-open shot that found the right side of the net. It was also Purdue's fastest score of the year.
The Boilermakers possessed the ball for a large portion of the first half, but had a tough time finding enough quality shots to pad their early lead. Of Purdue's nine first half shots, only three were on goal.
Purdue finished the match outshooting Minnesota, 14-13. Shots on goal also favored the Boilermakers, 5-2. Goalkeeper Lauren Mason was forced to make one save in the winning effort, while Schneider made three,
Defensively in the first half, Purdue was able to keep the ball away from the Golden Gopher attackers, winning a number of headers and having Jill Sarbaugh and Jordyn Shaffer making key tackles at midfield. Minnesota started to heat up late in the first period, but the defense cleared out two corner kicks and Zarinah Blockton single-handedly stopped Clare Grimwood from getting off a shot within the goal box.
Minnesota was limited to seven first-half shots, only one, of which, was on goal. Klatte also lauded the defensive performances of Robison and Biamonte, who battled for a combined 104 minutes coming off the bench.
Grimwood had her revenge minutes into the second half connecting on a cross served up by Kelsey Hood, marking the first time this season an opponent had come back to tie the Boilermakers. Grimwood's score was also the first by a Minnesota player againt Purdue since the 2000 season.
The Boilermakers complete their first weekend of Big Ten competiton Sunday with a 1 p.m. match at No. 2 Penn State. The Nittany Lions won their conference opener beating the Indiana Hoosiers in Happy Valley, 2-0.