Nov. 11, 2005
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers ended Purdue's 2005 season Friday night at Marquette's Valley Fields on penalty kicks, 6-5, after both teams played to a scoreless tie. UWM will face Marquette in the second round Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Panthers and Boilermakers each converted their first four penalty kicks before Pam Shipway's attempt was hit over the crossbar by Purdue goalkeeper Lauren Mason. Following that miss, it was all up to senior Shannon Bradbury to deliver the Old Gold and Black into the second round, just like she did in 2002 against Eastern Illinois.
However, there would be no heroics on this night. The shot hit the right post, breathing new life into the Panthers' bench.
Two rounds later, UWM goalkeeper Erica Kane caught Kate Mills' attempt at the right corner, sending the Panthers sprinting onto the pitch as a grief-stricken Mills dropped to her knees.
The Panthers' team Purdue saw tonight was much improved over the one it beat, 3-0, during an August exhbition.
"They were able to keep their players behind the ball, and were hard to break down," said head coach Rob Klatte. "They also did a great job of clogging the midfield, but we had our chances."
Wisconsin-Milwaukee held the Boilermakers to just 11 shots, while taking 15. Panther goalkeeper Erin Kane made five saves and Mason finished with four.
Both teams had their share of tough-luck moments throughout the game. In the opening period, UWM missed two open shots from near the six-yard line, and Purdue failed to convert on a pair of free kicks taken just outside the 18-yard box.
Purdue's first direct kick, taken by Kim Comisar near the left corner, sailed past the goalmouth and was mistakenly hit across the endline by one of her teammates. When the Boilermakers were awarded with a second free kick from the top of the 18-yard line, Comisar decided to take matters into her own hands, but the shot traveled wide right.
The Panthers' defense did an excellent job inside the Purdue attacking zone, regularly intercepting or heading out crosses sent towards the Purdue attackers. The four-woman back line also shutdown Jessica Okoroafo, holding her shotless through the first 55 minutes.
Okoroafo finished the game with three shots, two of which were on goal. The Big Ten's freshman of the year appeared to have scored the game-winner with 25 minutes remaining, but it was negated due to an offsides penalty.
The Purdue defense also played tight. Comisar continually sent the ball up field after taking possesion, while center backs Zarinah Blockton and Kira Bilecky were able to hold their own against the UWM forwards. Right back Christy Riggle was credited with a team save, kicking back a diagonal taken by Andrea Kramer.
"Our back line played well tonight," said Klatte. "Zarinah had a good game, and I was impressed with the way Amber Henkle stepped up for us in relief."
The defensive stalemate continued into the second period, where the Boilermakers successfully defended three UWM corners, while the Panthers cleared out two. The two defenses also continued to pickpocket one another at midfield and in the attacking thirds.
UWM nearly won the match with nine minutes remaining, but a shot by Sarah Freidel off an Amanda Winn corner just missed wide left. Seconds later, a Winn free kick from about 25-yards back was saved at the left post with Mason making the diving stop.
Purdue stopped two Panther corners withing the final five minutes of regulation. The first was popped back to midfield and the second threat ended after a shot by Janice McGann went wide.
UWM received another corner in the first overtime, but Mason once again came through with the clutch save, stopping a blast from the foot of Jodi Klagos in the 95th minute.
Purdue was on the attack throughout the second overtime, but could not get the ball to fall its way. On a direct kick taken near the corner, Okoroafo missed Jordyn Shaffer's service by a few inches, and Lauren Sesselmann's point-blank shot was saved by Kane in mid-air.
Friday's loss wrapped up a season filled great highs and lows. The team rebounded from a 1-4 start to beat nationally ranked teams from Kansas and Nebraska, then finished second in the Big Ten Conference at 7-2-1 and qualified for its third NCAA appearance in four years.
Following the match, Klatte told his team not to pout about tonight's loss, but rather to think about all they accomplished to make 2005 one of best seasons in Purdue history.
"Losing hurts, but I don't want them to be sulking about this game beyond a few hours," said Klatte. "I want them to realize what a great season we had together. We rebounded from a 1-4 start to finish second in the conference and then qualified for NCAAs. I enjoyed this season very much; they're a great group of girls."