Oct. 13, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue (11-3-2, 4-2 Big Ten) beat conference rival Northwestern (7-7-1, 3-3-1) 2-1 Friday afternoon at the Varsity Soccer Complex. Parrissa Eyorokon scored the game-winner in the 50th minute and initiated the game-tying goal late in the first half.
"Those were just two class plays by Parrissa," said head coach Rob Klatte. "First she brings the ball the length of the field to set up Jess' (Okoroafo) score, then delivered a fantastic backbreaking shot."
Eyorokon's goal was her seventh of the season and Big Ten Conference best fifth-game winner. The West Chester, Ohio, native had a clear look at the net after a shot by Okoroafo hit off a defender. The ball rolled right to Eyorokon, who one-timed it into the upper right corner from approximately 25-30 yards out.
Like Purdue, Northwestern also was a recipient of a lucky bounce. The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute after Alicia Herczeg punched back a shot first taken by Zendzi Neal and hit off Purdue defensive back Zarinah Blockton.
Purdue had a few good looks in the first half but did not crack the scoreboard until the 45th minute. Eyorokon collected a turnover inside Northwestern territory and motored the ball across midfield and deep into Purdue's attacking third, where she found Sylvia Forbes.
Forbes moved the ball from the far corner down the endline before serving a cross to Okoroafo, who kicked it over the head of Northwestern goalkeeper Lauren Johnston. Okoroafo's goal was her fifth of the season.
Klatte was happy with his offense, which scored two goals in a match for the first time since a 2-0 home win over Utah on Sept. 15.
"I truly felt this was one of our best all-around attacking games," said Klatte. "We moved the ball well in their end during the second half and gave ourselves a lot of good looks. The problem was our clock management over the last 15 minutes of the match; we let them hang in there too long."
Purdue goalkeeper Lauren Mason made only two saves, both of them coming in the final 13 minutes. First she caught a Shannon Schneeman header then wrapped up a Jenny Dunn shot that came towards the net on a curved angle.
Purdue finished the match with 12 shots, five on goal, and held Northwestern to 11 shots, three on goal.
The Boilermakers complete their conference homestand Sunday at 1 p.m., playing host to the Wisconsin Badgers. Lauren Mason, Kristin Lichtenberg and Rebecca Robison will be honored prior to kickoff as part of Senior Day festivities.