Aug. 23, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS - The Purdue women's soccer team defeated Butler 2-1 Sunday afternoon at the Butler Bowl.
"We got the result we were looking for, but we really didn't get the performance we were looking for," head coach Robert Klatte said. "I thought Butler played a very good game and was very organized. We had a couple more opportunities that we wish we had converted, but Jessica Okoroafo was able to continue her scoring prowess and we are happy about that. We know that we're going to have to come forward out of this and redouble our efforts and get a better workman-like performance with more intensity over 90 minutes for our match coming up this Friday."
Purdue (2-0-0) scored its first goal when Okoroafo, a senior co-captain from Sylvania, Ohio, found the back of the net in the 19th minute. After a corner kick by sophomore Alexis Tryba, the ball was batted around in the box and Okoroafo got her head on it and pushed it past the goalkeeper.
Okoroafo added another goal off a corner kick just 3:25 into the second half. Sophomore Kellie Phillips knocked the ball into the box, where it was touched by senior Loredana Riverso over to Okoroafo, who put it into the net behind a diving goalkeeper.
The tally was the 14th game-winning goal of Okoroafo's career, which breaks a tie she held atop the school record book with Lauren Sesselmann. Okoroafo tied Sesselmann's record with the game-winning goal in Friday's 5-0 victory over Ohio. Okoroafo's two goals also move her just four behind Sesselmann's school record of 34 career goals.
"Today wasn't one of our best games, but we pulled through so we are happy about that," Okoroafo said. "This game kind of gave us a reality check letting us know that we need to work harder to reach our goals this season. I didn't know I was approaching the record, but I'm really excited about it. It's really nice, and I just love being able to contribute to this team."
Butler (0-2-0) scored in the 79th minute when Lindsey Fox streaked up the middle of the field and took a through ball from Rachael Melendez for a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Jenny Bradfisch. Fox pushed the ball into the back of the net to pull the Bulldogs within one, but that was the last time they would threaten.
Butler's goal was the only shot on goal allowed by the Purdue defense. Senior Sylvia Forbes, junior Liz Secue and freshman Remi Gibba patrolled the Boilermakers' back line and kept Bradfisch virtually free of pressure throughout the game.
Purdue improved to 6-0 all-time against Butler in a series that is made up of three games at each home site. The Boilermakers are 2-0 to start a season for the third time in program history.
Purdue travels to College Station, Texas, to battle No. 7 Texas A&M on Friday. Action begins from the Aggie Soccer Stadium at 9 p.m. ET, and live results can be found at PurdueSports.com.