Sept. 5, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue finished its three-game homestand Tuesday with a dramatic 1-0 victory over the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers. The game-winner was delivered by redshirt freshman Sylvia Forbes with 4:52 left in regulation.
Forbes created a turnover at the 30-yard mark, turned up field and delivered a blast from the top of the 18-yard box into the top right corner of the net. The goal was Forbes' second of the season and her first career game-winner.
"This match was very beneficial to us in that we need challenges," said head coach Rob Klatte. "If we would have scored more goals early on, then we would have coasted - and that's not going to happen during the conference season. They (Loyola-Chicago) had great organization and it was tough to break them down."
Prior to Forbes' goal, Purdue kept getting turned back by a stout Rambler defense that cleared five corner kicks and made two team saves along the goal line. ULC goalkeeper Emily Peick had a strong game in net with eight saves.
Forbes' shot was the 27th of the match and the 11th on goal; totals Klatte was very pleased with.
"I'm very happy with our offensive pressure, we're always looking to put 10 or more shots on goal," said Klatte. "We have that attitude of we're always going to get another chance, so we need to stay greedy - we just need to be a bit more clinical in front of the net."
Midway through the second half, it looked as if Purdue would be fighting from behind. The Ramblers created several goal-scoring opportunities deep in their own end via fouls and corner kicks, but the Boilermaker defense came through with clearance after clearance.
Boilermaker goalkeeper Lauren Mason was only credited with one save, but was fearless in punching out the ball through traffic. Jordyn Shaffer headed out a sharp cross coming into the 18-yard box, as did Kira Bilecky and her cohorts along the defensive line. Pressure from the forwards and midfielders again played a major role in the possession game.
"There is an intensity about us that helps us defend those set plays," said Klatte. "Of course, it's also that intensity that puts us in those situations. But we have to expect that once we enter Big Ten play, that we're going to be seeing a lot more pressure in the defensive third of the field."
Purdue's shutout streak is now at four matches, which is its longest streak since 2003 when it blanked five-consecutive opponents on the road from Sept. 7 to 21. During that streak, Purdue blanked Arkansas, Illinois State, Evansville, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The Boilermakers look to continue their winning ways this weekend with road games at Oklahoma on Friday night and New Mexico Sunday morning.