Sept. 16, 2005
By Douglas Winters III
Purdue Sports Information
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue stunned 19th-ranked Nebraska Friday at the Varsity Soccer Complex, 2-1, winning in come-from-behind fashion for the second time this week.
Tuesday, the Boilermakers rallied from 1-0 halftime deficit against Butler, winning 2-1.
The win over Nebraska also marked the first time Purdue had beaten a ranked opponent since Sept. 26, 2003, when it knocked off Penn State, 3-1, in a rain-shortened match.
Jessica Okoroafo scored the game-winner, her third of the season, in the 37th minute off a Kim Comisar assist. Comisar, who provided both assists, sent the ball towards the box, where it deflected off a Cornhuskers' shoulder. Okoroafo quickly made a play on the ball and blasted it past goalkeeper Katie Wright, who suffered her first loss of the season.
All three of Okoroafo's goals this season have been game-winners, including the one against Butler. Comisar's two-assist game is her second of the season; she leads all Boilermakers with four assists.
"Our goal was to break through their pressure," said head coach Rob Klatte. "We molded our plays off what they did, took some bold chances and they paid off. This game was won by some great defensive plays; we had some great man-to-man matchups."
Purdue entered halftime with a 2-1 lead and held on through the final horn. Purdue's aggressive play in the second half was a difference maker, as they continually fought to win headers over a much larger Cornhusker lineup.
The Boilermaker defense played a tremendous role, making several key interceptions of incoming crosses and forward passes; meanwhile the midfielders and forwards were running down the clock, keeping excellent control of the ball in their offensive zone, and making the occasional slide tackle to interrupt the Huskers' attack.
But it's possible that no one had a better individual game than Purdue goalkeeper Lauren Mason. The junior netminder finished the match with five saves, but it was her non-saves, which helped keep Purdue on top.
With just under 20 minutes to play, Nebraska sharpshooter Brittany Timko broke through the Purdue defense and charged hard towards the net. Instead of stepping back, Mason charged towards Timko and stole the ball off her foot as she crossed past the six-yard box.
The Cornhuskers again threatened to tie the game with under two minutes to play when they were called for offsides by the linesman; however, the referee never blew his whistle to stop play. As the Purdue bench protested and the rest of the Boilermaker defense stopped in their tracks, Mason remained focused on the ball and snared a point-blank shot off the foot of Jessie Bruch.
Mason's bravery also included a moment where she was forced to crawl over to a loose ball that was misplayed by the defense. Mason was grounded after deflecting out one of Timko's five shots, but made a quick scamper to prevent any Cornhusker rebound opportunity.
Purdue kept up its offensive pressure in the second half, but could not register an insurance goal. Addie Moppert had a great chance coming up the field on a breakaway, but her shot sailed just wide of the net as Wright dove to make a save. A minute later, another Comisar blast was covered by Wright near the post.
Purdue was outshot in the second half, 9-7, but outshot Nebraska for the game, 15-14. The Boilermakers' also had five corner kick chances, all of which were taken in the first half.
Nebraska scored first in the 17th minute off a Timko corner kick. Timko's kick first hit Sasha Andrews, who passed it over to Aysha Jamani inside the goal box for her fourth goal of the season.
Nebraska's coverted corner kick was already their seventh of the half, with all seven taken by Timko. Following the Cornhuskers' 17th-minute goal, the Boilermakers would give up just one more corner kick for the remainder of the match, helping them mount their comeback.
Purdue immediately responded with a goal of its own 46 seconds later. Comisar drove down the left side of the field and rifled a shot that was headed in by Lauren Sesselmann in the goal box. The goal was Sesselmann's second of the season.
Wright finished the match with three saves and two goals allowed. The Nebraska defense also was credited with a team save.
The weekend does not get any easier for Purdue as it plays host to the No. 24 Kansas Jayhawks (3-2-1) on Sunday. Kickoff at the Varsity Soccer Complex is scheduled for 1 p.m.