Nov. 11, 2007
ST. PAUL, Minn. - It's time to celebrate in West Lafayette. The Purdue Boilermakers are the 2007 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament Champions.
Purdue won its first Big Ten title (regular season or tournament) after defeating Ohio State 3-1 Sunday afternoon at the University of Minnesota's Robbie Stadium. The win improved Purdue's record to 19-2-2, while the Buckeyes fell to 12-9-1.
Shauna Stapleton, who provided two assists in Sunday's win, was named Big Ten Tournament offensive MVP. With 10 goals and 11 assists, Stapleton is the first Boilermaker in team history to post double-digit season totals in goals and assists.
Defensive MVP honors were presented to midfielder Jordyn Shaffer, who helped the Boilermakers control the point of possession through the entire three-match weekend. Shaffer's clearances at midfield and inside the opponent's attacking third were invaluable to the Boilermakers' offensive attack.
Stapleton's first assist came off her corner kick in the ninth minute. The Springfield, Ohio, native served the ball to the far side of the six-yard box where it was headed in by Kira Bilecky. The goal was Bilecky's second of the season.
Stapleton served up the eventual game-winning assist in the 25th minute, feeding Jessica Okoroafo, who blasted her shot into the upper corner and over the head of OSU goalkeeper Lauren Robertson.
Okoroafo scored two goals this weekend, raising her season total to eight. She was named to the all-tournament team along with Stapleton and Shaffer.
Purdue's two-goal cushion was reduced to one in the 68th minute after the Buckeyes banked in a corner kick the Boilermakers could not push outside the 18-yard box. After one failed clearance, the ball landed at near post, where it was hooked in under the crossbar by Caitlin Colfer.
OSU's Courtney Jenkins and Lara Dickenmann were credited with the assists.
Never wavering, the Boilermakers pushed their lead back to two goals after Loredana Riverso redirected a deep ball served forward by Jessica Stellhorn. Riverso scored four times over the weekend, raising her season total to 12.
Purdue outshot Ohio State 13-7 and placed eight shots on frame. Robertson was forced to make five saves, while Purdue's Jenny Bradfisch made three.
Purdue's next match will be Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but the Boilermakers won't know who they are playing or where or when until the NCAA releases the brackets Monday night.
ESPNews will reveal the brackets in between 8 and 8:30 p.m. ET and then they'll be posted at ncaasports.com
The Old and Black is expected to be listed among the 16 seeded teams and could play host. If the Boilermakers are lucky enough to welcome the NCAA Tournament to the Varsity Soccer Complex, Friday's matches will kick off at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET. Sunday's second-round match will begin at 1 p.m. ET.