Aug. 31, 2007
By David Brienza
Purdue sports information student assistant
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - No.15 Purdue (0-0-1) and Kentucky (0-0-1) played to a 0-0 double-overtime deadlock in the 2007 season debut for both teams Friday afternoon at the Varsity Soccer Complex during the first day of the Boilermaker Challenge Cup.
It was a story of missed chances, as the two teams combined for 32 shots and 19 corner kicks but neither was able to come away with the game winner. Purdue outshot Kentucky 20-12 and held an advantage (5-2) in shots on goal but could not come away with the victory.
The first 20 minutes of Friday's contest was a feeling-out period as neither team had any quality chances.
In the 22nd minute Purdue had its first good chance as junior forward Jessica Okoroafo had a shot bounce off the crossbar. Okoroafo would have another shot bounce off the crossbar in the 85th minute as she fired a rocket from 30 yards that appeared to go in but was parried away by Kentucky goalkeeper Laura Baker.
Purdue coach Rob Klatte said he was pleased with his teams' offensive effort and that Friday's game was full of uncanny examples.
"I'm pleased with our attacking effort, we created some really good chances," Klatte said. "Today we just had some uncanny things happen to us, I mean we had two shots off the crossbar, one that the keeper saved, that's unheard of."
Klatte said his team just needs to build up confidence and execute on the offensive end in the future.
"We had good chances today, I think we just tried to set up the perfect shot too many times," Klatte said. "We just have to keep attacking and creating chances and build up our confidence."
Purdue sophomore forward Loredana Riverso had a chance to break the deadlock just before half-time when she struck a shot from the left side of the 18 yard box from 22 yards out that bounced off of Baker.
The Boilermakers kept the pressure on the Wildcats in the second half, coming up with nine shots and three corner kick opportunities but could not put one in the back off the net. In the 59th minute senior forward Parrissa Eyorokon turned had a chance on a cross from senior Jill Sarbaugh but her header was collected by Baker. In the 64th minute junior transfer Felicia Schroeder had missed on a diving header and Sarbaugh missed a shot attempt from about 25 yards out in the 73 minute.
The Boilermakers last quality chance would be Okoroafo's shot off the crossbar in the 85th minute. With time winding down Purdue had two consecutive corner kick opportunities in the 88th minute but couldn't come away with the gamewinner.
In extra-time, Purdue's best chance to come away with the victory was off of a corner in the 95th minute as Riverso took a rebound and put it back on target.
In the first overtime period the Wildcats had one of their best chances of the night as midfielder Nicola Holdsworth put one over the crossbar. Senior defender Kira Bilecky came up with a deflection in the second overtime to preserve the 0-0 draw as she blocked a second-chance shot by Kentucky's Laura Novikoff.
Of the two close calls in overtime and his team's play on the defensive end Klatte said his team needs to tighten up.
"We allowed them to open the field up too much, we have to close up defensively," Klatte said.
The Boilermakers next play Louisville (1-0-0) at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Varsity Soccer Complex.
Notes
Friday's scoreless tie was the fifth in Purdue history and the first for a home or season opener ... Jenny Bradfisch became the first Purdue goalkeeper to pitch a shutout in her first collegiate start since Lauren Mason accomplished the same feat in 2003, beating Marshall 3-0 ... Purdue's all-time record against the SEC is 1-1-1 ... Purdue's home unbeaten streak was extended to 11 games; its last home loss was to San Diego State on Aug. 27, 2006 ... the Boilermakers have opened the season at home the last five years, and in eight of ten seasons ... Purdue's record in home openers is 5-2-1 and 6-3-1 in season openers ... technical difficulties prevented the internet-only broadcast of today's game, Purdue Athletics sincerely apologies for any inconvenience and will attempt to solve the problem prior to Sunday's match vs. Louisville ... a digital recording was made for today's game and will be archived at purduesports.com at a later date.