Sept. 16, 2007
By David Brienza
Purdue sports information student assistant
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind - No. 22 Purdue used three first-half goals to cruise to a 4-0 win over the Bowling Green Falcons Sunday afternoon at the Varsity Soccer Complex. Senior Jill Sarbaugh scored her first goal of the season nine minutes after the opening whistle and Felicia Schroeder added two more as the Boilermakers won their sixth-straight game.
The victory improved Purdue's overall record to 6-1-1 while the Falcons dropped to 2-4.
Sarbaugh had a big game offensively with a goal and two assists. After taking a pass at the top of the 18-yard box from senior Shauna Stapleton, Sarbaugh dribbled to her left to beat a defender and then fired a shot near post past Bowling Green starting goalkeeper Tiffany Hansen.
Unrelenting offensive pressure was the key to Purdue's victory as it produced 15 shots on goal for the second time in three games and outworked the Falcons for a 5-2 advantage on corner kicks.
Schroeder put the match out of reach midway through the first half, scoring both her goals within 57 seconds from the 27th to 28th minute. The Purdue junior was assisted on her first goal by Parrissa Eyorokon and by Sarbaugh on her second.
Schroeder's second and third scores of the year set a Purdue match record for shortest span between goals. The prior record of 1:03 was orignially set by Jessica Baumhoff and Annette Kent at Valparaiso on Sept. 7, 2000.
Purdue received an insurance goal from Sylvia Forbes on an assist from Sarbaugh in the 76th minute, and likely would have scored more if it were not for the play of BGSU backup goalkeeper Alexa Arsenault, who made seven saves over the final 45 minutes.
Purdue's defense matched Arsenault's second-half effort as it limited the Falcons to one second-half attempt, a 35-yard shot by Sarah Haferkamp that was off target.
The Boilermakers only allowed eight shots for the match as they pitched their fourth-consecutive shutout. Jenny Bradfisch and Carianne Betts combined for the shutout, with Bradfisch pulling in all four saves.
"We were so much better in the second half despite scoring more in the first half," said Purdue head coach Rob Klatte. "The team worked harder and our midfielders and backs did a good job of limiting Bowling Green's passing options."
Purdue's opponents have been held scoreless for the last 437 minutes. The Boilermakers have not surrendered a goal since the 13th minute of their 3-1 win at Washington last weekend.
More important than the final score was the awareness raised by the Purdue soccer program for United States Armed Forces as part of "Salute Our Heroes Day". The Boilermakers generated over $2500 for the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes by auctioning off their game-worn red, white and blue jerseys, and fans donated close to 50 soccer balls for Operation Soccer Chopper, whose mission is to deliver soccer and volleyballs to the children of Afghanistan.
The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes is a non-partisan 501(c) (3) organization committed to helping wounded and disabled War on Terror veterans rebuild their lives and homes.
The patriotic game-day atmosphere, which included members of the local military in attendance and the Purdue ROTC Color Guard, met and exceed Klatte's expectations.
"I like to make the team more aware of various issues and current events and have them understand they can all make a difference," said Klatte, whose teams have donned pink jerseys for breast cancer, and yellow jerseys for Lance Armstrong's LIVEstrong Foundation in previous seasons. "We had a great crowd - and one individual bid $500 for one of the uniforms. It was a real nice experience for everyone involved."
Purdue is 3-0 on its current seven-game homestand and will next face Oregon Friday at 5 p.m.at the Varsity Soccer Complex.