Sept. 28, 2008
Madison, Wis. - The Boilermaker soccer team improved to a perfect 2-0 in the Big Ten with a hard fought victory in Madison, Wis. on Sunday. Purdue used a stifiling defense and an opportunistic offense to notch the 1-0 win over the Badgers.
Junior forward Loredana Riverso scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season. She also tallied four shots, three of which were on goal. Freshman forward Alex Jenkins also registered four shots for the Boilermakers.
Purdue's back line continued their stellar play with the team's second shutout of the weekend. Freshman midfielder Lauren Montenegro continually won loose balls and frustrated the Wisconsin attack, while defenders Sylvia Forbes, Liz Secue, Jessica Stellhorn and Katie Seeger were also integral to a defense that limited the Badgers to one shot in the first half.
Wisconsin finished the game with zero goals on ten shots, five of which were on goal. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Jenny Bradfisch got credit for her third shutout of the season.
Senior forward Felicia Schroeder nearly got the scoring started in the 19th minute when she took a pass from freshman midfielder Kellie Phillips and ran behind the Badger back line. Schroeder got a good look, but her shot sailed just right of the goal.
In the 32nd minute, Montenegro fed Riverso for the game's only goal. Riverso took the pass and dribbled past a diving Badger goalkeeper in Jamie Klages. She drilled the ball into the open left side of the net and the Boilermakers would not look back from there.
Coming out of halftime, Wisconsin put the pressure on Purdue's defense. In the 62nd minute, the Badgers took a corner kick and nearly evened the score. Lauren Cochlin's header was punched into the air by Bradfisch and deflected off the crossbar. Laurie Nosbusch got the rebound, but the Purdue defense was there for the block and clearance.
Wisconsin would not mount a serious attack from then on. Every time they threatened, the Boilermakers were there for an answer.
Purdue (8-3-1) returns home next week to host Michigan and Michigan State next weekend. Kickoff against the Wolverines is slated for 4 p.m. ET on Friday.