Oct. 12, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's soccer team overcame an emotional loss on Friday night to snatch a victory from the Iowa Hawkeyes 2-1 in Iowa City on Sunday. The win puts the Boilermakers back on top of the Big Ten with a 4-1-1 conference record.
Junior Loredana Riverso and freshman Kellie Phillips supplied the scoring for Purdue. Senior Felicia Schroeder led the team with six shots. Freshman Katie Leinert only registered one shot, but provided steady play on the Boilermaker front line in her first career start.
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Jenny Bradfisch put forth another solid performance with seven saves. The Purdue defense held Iowa to one goal on 13 shots. Redshirt junior Sylvia Forbes, junior Katie Seeger and sophomores Liz Secue and Jessica Stellhorn all had helping hands in the stellar defensive effort.
In the 37th minute, the Hawkeyes almost tallied the match's first score but Bradfisch was there for another top notch save. Stephanie Hyink took a header off a corner kick directed at the left post. Bradfisch was blinded by her defenders but was able to get her fist up in just enough time to punch the ball over the crossbar.
Purdue's offense got going in the second half, outshooting Iowa 15-6 in the last 45 minutes.
Riverso racked up her seventh goal of the season in the 50th minute. She took a shot from 15 yards at the right side of the penalty box that swept in front of Iowa goalkeeper Emily Moran. The ball bounced off the left post but a little backspin, and a 15 mph wind, nudged the ball over the line to give the Boilermakers a 1-0 lead.
Iowa responded in the 75th minute with a goal by Kelli McLaughlin. Amanda Martin took a shot that was blocked by the Purdue defense, but McLaughlin was there for the rebound.
Purdue could have easily folded up and settled for the tie at that point, but today was a new day. Just one minute after the Hawkeyes evened the score, Phillips notched her third goal of the year to send Purdue home with the win. Her tally came off a corner kick that sailed over the Iowa defense and the Purdue attackers untouched.
The Boilermakers (10-4-2) have little time to rest, however, with the prestigious Golden Boot match against Indiana looming. Friday's match at Bloomington kicks off at 7 p.m. ET.