Sept. 3, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - No. 21 Purdue earned its first weekend sweep of the season, defeating Baylor, 2-0, Sunday afternoon at the Varsity Soccer Complex. The win pushed the Boilermakers' overall record to 3-1-1, while Baylor dropped to 1-2-1.
Purdue won both of its Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge matches. The Boilermakers beat Texas Tech on Friday, 4-0.
Sophomore Jessica Okoroafo was the star of the match, netting both goals, and coming within mere inches of posting only the second hat trick in program history (Courtney Coppedge vs. Arkansas in Sept. of 2003).
Okoroafo scored her first goal in the 41st minute after receiving a touch pass from Loredana Riverso and one-timing it past Baylor goalkeeper Ashley Holder. The defending Big Ten Freshman of the Year added a second goal nine minutes later, bumping in a Jill Sarbaugh service while standing near post.
"Our forwards can be deadly when we're able to keep them mobile," said Purdue head coach Rob Klatte, referring to his attackers' quickness. "We have a number of players who strive in one-vs.-one situations because of their speed and agility. Our first goal was a direct result of Loredana beating one of their defenders along the end line."
Okoroafo's multi-goal game was her first of the season and the third of her young career. She leads all Purdue players with three goals despite missing the last two matches due to an injury.
Okoroafo played only 46 minutes coming of the bench, but gave Purdue all the offense it would need. The Boilermaker defense did the rest.
Since moving into a four-defensive back alignment last Tuesday at Cincinnati, the Boilermakers have yet to yield a goal. The last time Purdue pitched three consecutive shutouts was from Oct. 22 to 28, 2004, beating Indiana, Indiana State and Oakland.
Klatte praised all positions for getting the job done on defense.
"Our forwards and midfielders played a major role in creating defensive pressure," said Klatte, who is a Baylor alumnus. "They made sure our backs were never left isolated. They stepped up and made deflections and kept the ball in our possession."
Lauren Mason was required to make only two saves, both coming in the second half. Mason's first save was a beauty, picking off an Amanda McGrath shot after the Baylor Bear had broken through the defense. Mason earned a second save for catching a knuckleball service from Shea Yates.
Mason's win was the 31st of her career, putting her atop Purdue's all-time victory list. Former goalkeeper Jocelyn Cavalier won 30 matches from 1998 through 2002.
Purdue concludes its three-game homestand Tuesday with a 5:30 p.m. match against Loyola-Chicago. The match will air live on 1410 WLAS-AM and over the World Wide Web at purduesports.com. Steve Hall and Andrew Staley begin their broadcast 10 minutes prior to kickoff.
The Boilermakers fly out to Oklahoma and New Mexico next weekend for matches on Sept. 8 and 10.