Sept. 14, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - On a day that epitomized the word "nasty," the Purdue women's soccer team picked up a hard fought 3-0 victory over Morehead State. Today's competition saw winds gust 30-40 mph and a steady rain that sometimes went into a horizontal downpour.
Redshirt sophomore Katie Becker led the way for the Boilermakers with two goals. Freshman Kellie Phillips tallied one score and sophomore Katie Seeger and freshman Katilyn Blacha each picked up one assist.
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Jenny Bradfisch notched five saves for her second shutout of the season. Sophomore defender Liz Secue and redshirt junior defender Sylvia Forbes continually turned away what few chances Morehead State had.
Purdue controlled the tempo early and often. Becker got the scoring started in the 33rd minute when Blacha sent her a cross from the left side of the box. Becker nailed the header from seven yards out to give the Boilermakers the 1-0 lead.
Phillips was quickly on the attack as the second half began, taking advantage of a misplayed ball by the Eagle defense in the 47th minute. Her shot from 15 yards barely snuck under the crossbar and over the outstretched hand of Eagle goalkeeper Lily Meisner for her second goal of the season.
Becker sealed the game in the 87th minute off a cross from Seeger. It was Becker's first career two-goal game.
In the day's other match, Rhode Island defeated Indiana State 5-0.
The win gave Purdue the Boilermaker Challenge Cup title for the first time since 2004 and the fifth time in program history. Rhode Island finished second, Morehead State was third and Indiana State finished fourth.
Rhode Island and Morehead State both split this weekend's matches, but Rhode Island earned second place based on their +3 goal differential.
Phillips was named the tournament's Offensive MVP. She scored three points for the weekend on one goal and one assist. Freshman midfielder Lauren Montenegro earned Defensive MVP honors as played a huge part in Boilermakers ability to control the tempo of their matches all weekend long.
Also named to the all-tournament team were forwards Becker (Purdue), Felicia Schroeder (Purdue), and Amanda Thomas (Rhode Island); midfielders Bethany Davidson (Morehead State), Adrian Ruhe Lischke (Rhode Island), Stephanie Santos (Rhode Island); and defensive backs Alyssa Ramsey (Indiana State), Secue (Purdue), and Lauren Seebach (Morehead State).
Purdue (5-2-1) stays home next week as they prepare to host Washington on Friday and Colorado College on Sunday. The match versus Colorado College is Go Green Day in conjunction with Purdue's week-long endeavor to "go green."