Nov. 2, 2006
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Sylvia Forbes headed in a Jill Sarbaugh delivery in the 94th minute to give Purdue a 2-1 overtime victory over Ohio State Thursday morning in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
The game-winner was initiated by a Shauna Stapleton corner kick that landed on the far side. Kira Bilecky collected the ball outside the six, dumped it back to Sarbaugh, who then looped the ball back to the near post from where Forbes headed it in.
"Jill had been creating great chances for us all game, so I knew when she put the ball up there I could get it in," said Forbes.
Thursday's win was Purdue's first in a Big Ten Tournament since beating Indiana in the first round of the 2003 edition, 1-0. Purdue has defeated Ohio State twice this season and has won the last three meetings by a combined score of 6-3.
"I knew this match was going to be a dogfight," said head coach Rob Klatte. "We're two very similar teams in our attacking fronts, but I thought the difference was we got more out of our depth. We were very dangerous in the third, broke them down a few times, and created some good looks."
A mere 18 seconds separated the match's first two goals. Ohio State struck first in the 49th minute when Ashley Bowyer collected her own rebound off a deflection and looped the ball into the upper left corner from about 30-yards out.
"That's my favorite type of save to make, but my heels hit together going for the ball and by that time it was already past me and I couldn't get more than a finger on it," said Purdue goalkeeper Lauren Mason.
The Boilermakers responded with an Jessica Okoraofo score in the 50th minute after receiving a cross on the left side from Kristin Hetzel. Okoroafo's goal was her eighth of the season.
Purdue was outshot in the second half 13-7, and was forced to clear four corner kicks while OSU booted out two of the Boilermakers.
Purdue had more than a few solid looks at the net, but a Forbes shot sailed high and a cross to Loredana Riverso from Sarbaugh missed its target. The second half ended with a slow roller from Stapleton to OSU keeper Lauren Robertson.
Both teams played a scoreless first half, each rattling off six shots as the goalkeepers combined for seven saves.
Purdue was presented with four golden chances to score but could not convert. With 20 minutes remaining, Robertson stretched to tip back a Okoroafo header. Later, Parrissa Eyorokon sent a breakaway attempt inches wide of the net and Robertson stopped a point-blank range shot from Sarbaugh.
The Boilermaker defense caught a break midway through the first half when an OSU goal from Lisa Grubb was called back for offsides. Grubb nearly scored in the closing second of the first half, but Mason leaped to push her shot above the cross bar.
Purdue's next match is Friday at 4:30 p.m against the winner of the Illinois and Wisconsin game.