Sept. 21, 2007
By David Brienza
Purdue sports information student assistant
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind - No. 15 Purdue extended its season-long winning streak to seven games with a closely fought 3-2 win over Oregon Friday at the Varsity Soccer Complex. Goals were scored by Christy Riggle, Parrissa Eyorokon and Loredana Riverso.
Purdue improved to 7-1-1, equaling the best start in program history through nine games (2003 and 2006), while Oregon dropped to 4-3.
Although Purdue received the desired result, the overall effort was less than encouraging.
"The difference was in our goal-scoring ability, but that was a tired performance," said head coach Rob Klatte. "We left Oregon in the game, and they're a team that can expose bad habits."
The Boilermakers fell behind early after surrendering a goal in the fifth minute to Oregon midfielder Allison Newton, who nailed a shot from 15 yards out.
The Ducks' celebration did not last long as Purdue responded with a goal of its own 21 seconds later.
The Boilermakers wasted no time attacking the Oregon defense at the opposite end of the pitch. Riggle hustled down the far side and received a pass from senior forward Jill Sarbaugh inside the 18-yard box. From there, Riggle angled a shot through a web of Duck defenders and goalkeeper Jessie Chatfield to even the score at 1-1.
The goal was the first of Riggle's four-year career.
Both clubs held each other scoreless for the remainder of the first half as only four more shots were registered on frame.
The Boilermakers came out of halftime seemingly rejuvenated as they scored twice within the first four minutes and increased their lead to 3-1.
Eyorokon scored her fourth goal of the year 1:36 into the second half and was assisted by Riverso and Schroeder. After taking a pass from Riverso at the top of the 18-yard box, Eyorokon went to her left, beat her defender, then blasted a rocket past Chatfield.
Riverso added the eventual game-winner less than two minutes later after receiving a cross from Schroeder. Riverso's shot first hit the far post and crossed over the line before Chatfield could get her gloves around the ball.
Oregon's offense refused to back down despite the two-goal deficit and pressured the Boilermaker defenders over the last 40 minutes of the match.
The Ducks cut Purdue's lead to one on a goal by Jessica Goodell in the 60th minute, and came within inches of knotting the match at 3-3 if it weren't for a heads-up defensive play at the goal line.
Two minutes after the Goodell score, Oregon forward Jen Stoltenberg baited Bradfisch out of the goal box and booted a shot that was deflected away by the Boilermakers' goalkeeper.
As the ball bounced towards the net, Newton took her second swing of the game, but her attempt was kicked back by a Purdue defender as Bradfisch remained tied up with Stoltenberg.
Bradfisch finished the match with a career best five saves.
Both teams fired 11 shots through the match but the Ducks placed seven on goal to the Boilermakers' five.
"I saw a lot of blank faces," said Klatte. "The fatigue led to gaps in our technical abilities. We were out of position, reaching for the ball, and we were not connecting on defense. But we have to continue to work hard and get through these next 48 hours before we can rest."
Purdue improved to 4-0 on its current seven game homestand and will next play Western Michigan this Sunday at 1 p.m. Purdue and WMU have not met since their wild 2003 NCAA tournament second round match, which was, ironically, another 3-2 win for the Old Gold and Black.
Notes
The last time Purdue allowed two goals and won was at Ohio State on Oct. 9, 2005 (W 4-2) ... Parrissa Eyorokon's next goal will be the 20th of her career, placing her fourth among Purdue's all-time leaders ... Felicia Schroeder's two-assist effort was the third-straight for the Boilermakers; Jess Okoroafo provided two vs. Morehead State and Jill Sarbaugh dished out two vs. Bowling Green ... Purdue has never claimed a player with a three-assist match ... the Boilermakers are now 4-0 all-time against teams from Oregon and 2-1 vs. schools from the Pac-10 ... Oregon's goal in the fifth minute snapped a 441:58 minute scoreless streak ... the Boilermakers' response goal was the second fastest in team history; vs. OSU last year at the Big Ten Tournament, Kristin Hetzel connected with Jess Okoraofo a mere 18 seconds after the Buckeyes took the first lead of the game at 48:54 ... Oregon's loss was their first of the season after holding a lead.