Sept. 30, 2005
By Bobby Lamm
Purdue Sports Information
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Forwards Lauren Sesselmann and Jessica Okoroafo both scored two goals, leading Purdue to a 5-1 win over Michigan State Friday afternoon at the Varsity Soccer Complex.
The win lifted Purdue's overall record to 6-5 and its Big Ten record to 2-1. Michigan State's record dropped to 5-4-3, and 1-1 in the Big Ten.
The Spartans entered the match having allowed just five goals through their first 10 games of the season, but the defense was nowhere to be found as the Boilermakers scored twice in the first period and three more times in the second half.
Purdue was on-target throughout the game, placing eight of its 14 shots on goal. Michigan State finished the match with nine shots, four of which were on goal, as Lauren Mason was forced to make two saves.
Spartan goalkeeper Nicole Galas, the conference leader with an 0.50 goals-against average and five shutouts, was charged with all five goals. Backup Lindsay Wrege played the final 28 minutes and made one save.
"We were efficient at finishing today," said Purdue head coach Rob Klatte. "This was the first time this year we were finishing out of the air. You don't normally get too many games to do that, so today we showed how dangerous we can be. Sesselmann and Okoroafo are a great offensive combination."
Sesselmann started the offensive fireworks in the 11th minute, burying a Jill Sarbaugh assist from the left side. Jordyn Shaffer initiated the score by popping the ball up into the goal box, where Sarbaugh settled and slotted it over to Sesselmann. The assist was Shaffer's first of the season and Sarbaugh's third.
Sesselmann again scored seven minutes later, heading in a Kim Comisar free kick from seven yards back on the left side. Comisar is the team's leader with five assists this season.
Minutes later, Sesselmann came within inches of becoming the first Boilermaker since Courtney Coppedge to score a hat trick, but the ball hit off the senior's foot at an awkward angle as she slid towards the left post.
Sesselmann has six two-goal games in her career, two of which have come this week. The Green Bay native scored both goals in Purdue's 3-2 overtime loss last Sunday at Penn State.
It was a record-breaking day on several levels for Sesselmann. The six points lifted her career total to 83, which surpassed Annette Kent's (2000 - 2003) former varsity record of 81. Sesselmann also tied Coppedge's varsity record for most points in a match.
Sesselmann's two goals were the 30th and 31st of her career, tying Kent's varsity record for most career goals.
The Boilermakers thought they had put the game out of reach in the 24th minute after Shauna Stapleton punched in another Comisar free kick, but the goal was erased because of an offsides penalty. The non-goal provided a spark for the Spartans as they outshot Purdue during the final 20 minutes of the first period, taking three corner kicks and two free kicks deep in the Boilermakers' defensive zone.
Michigan State did not convert any of its first-half chances, but its patience paid off early in the second period after Maureen Pawlak headed in an Erin Konheim free kick.
Set plays (corners and free kicks) have been a sore spot for Purdue all season. Of the 14 goals allowed by Purdue this year, four have come off set plays, while another two have been off own goals.
After the Spartans cut the Boilermaker lead to one, Sesselmann and Okoroafo once again grabbed the offensive reins and combined for two more goals within a span of 2 minutes and 25 seconds.
The two forwards first connected in the 53rd minute after Sesselmann's cross from the left side found Okoroafo waiting to head the ball in from the goal box. Incredibly, the Purdue attackers executed the same exact play minutes later to push the Purdue lead to 4-1.
Sarbaugh scored the game's final goal in the 60th minute, giving Purdue it's most lopsided conference victory since it beat Iowa, 4-1, on Oct. 5, 2003.
Purdue's reserves were effective down the stretch, holding the Spartans scoreless on three shots. Michigan State was limited to three free kicks during the last 30 minutes, two of which were cleared out by the Boilermaker defense. Mason also saved a Shannon Collar header, which was taken off a Konheim free kick.
During the second half, redshirt freshman Caroline Gamache made her career debut, and Kristin Lichtenberg, who had missed the first 10 games due to injury, made her season debut.
The Boilermakers look to extend their home-winning streak to a sixth game Sunday when they play host to the No. 22 Michigan Wolverines at 1 p.m.