Oct. 26, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's soccer team had their chances, but could not muster enough on Sunday to take down perennial Big Ten favorite Penn State. With the 2-0 win, the Nittany Lions clinch the Big Ten regular season title while Purdue is left fighting for second.
Junior Loredana Riverso and senior Felicia Schroeder led the Boilermaker attack with three shots apiece. Riverso and freshman Katie Leinert each had two shots on goal.
Purdue outshot Penn State in the first half, 8-4, but could not keep up the effort in the last 45 minutes. Each team registered 15 shots for the match.
Penn State got on the board early with a goal from Nikki Watts in the 13th minute. Watts dribbled from the left side of the penalty box towards the middle and unleashed a shot from 15 yards. The ball was just out of goalkeeper Jenny Bradfisch's reach and snuck into the upper right-hand corner of the net.
Purdue's best chance to score came in the 39th minute. Riverso took a pass that sailed over the Penn State midfield as she went on a 3-on-2 breakaway with Leinert to her left and Schroeder to her right. Riverso fed a streaking Leinert at the left side of the box who ripped a shot from 15 yards. Penn State goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was there for the save, however, one of six on the day.
The Nittany Lions got on the board once again in the 62nd minute when Danielle Toney fed Katie Schoepfer for her 10th goal of the season. Toney kept pushing the attack in close and crossed the ball to Schoepfer, who scored from five yards right in front.
Toney almost added a goal of her own in the 77th minute when she dribbled through the Purdue defense and had a look at an open net. Her shot appeared as though it was going in before a diving effort from junior Katie Seeger knocked the ball out of the box.
Purdue get rights back on the horse this Friday when they take on Illinois on the Big Ten Network. The match will be broadcast live starting at 6:00 p.m. ET.