Sept. 18, 2009
Box Score | Klatte Post Game Comments
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 11th-ranked Purdue women's soccer team played to a 1-1 tie with Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Friday in front of 589 fans at the Varsity Soccer Complex.
"I thought we played a very organized opponent in Wisconsin-Milwaukee," head coach Robert Klatte said. "They got nine field players behind the ball consistently with only the forward up high. They invite you in upon them and look to break out from there. They are very dangerous in doing so. I thought they did a really good job of playing the way they face and countering. We came out sluggish in the second half after a good performance in the first half, where we just didn't finish off a couple of opportunities that I think would have opened up the game for us and brought them out of that defensive shell."
The two teams finished the first half exactly like it started as the scoreboard read 0-0 after the first 45 minutes. It was just the second time this season Purdue (5-2-1) did not score in the first half. The Boilermakers had multiple chances to score, including a shot by freshman Vanessa Ibewuike in the 25th minute that appeared to be going into an open goal but was headed away by a defender at the last minute.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2-4-3) got on the board less than four minutes into the second half when Sarah Hagen took a free kick from just outside the top of the penalty box. The shot was slammed into the left side of the net, and the Boilermakers found themselves trailing at home for the first time this season.
"Once they scored the goal, we ended up chasing," Klatte said. "It takes a lot of energy and a lot of effort to get back in the game. Kudos to our team for finding a way back in. I thought we had a few moments where we were able to attack them."
For the next 30 minutes, Purdue controlled most of the possession but was unable to break through to tie the score. Then, in the 79th minute, a Wisconsin-Milwaukee defender was called for a hand ball on a shot by Katie Leinert from the left side of the penalty box. The Boilermakers were awarded a penalty kick, and Kellie Phillips stepped up and pushed the ball into the left side of the net past the frozen goalkeeper. The goal was the first this season for Phillips and fifth of her career.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee got the best chance to score before the end of regulation as three shots from inside the box were blocked. The Panthers' fourth shot in the sequence found the back of the net, but the offside flag had been raised and the goal was not allowed.
Purdue had the first legitimate scoring chance in the first overtime. Ibewuike found herself with the ball while the Panthers' goalkeeper was way off of her line. Ibewuike took a shot from about 40 yards out that went over the goalkeepers head but was wide left of the net. The Boilermakers also got the last scoring chance in the second overtime. Phillips took a corner kick with less than one minute to play, but the goalkeeper came out and caught the ball to end the threat.
"They were a little weary after we scored the goal," Klatte said. "In overtime, we definitely were the attacking side, but they are so dangerous on the counter. Any time you take 30 shots, you know you are creating some stuff offensively. We have to find ways to get in behind teams that are going to put large numbers of people behind the ball. That's still our growth and development and improvement area. Overall, we're disappointed with the result, but at the same time we are very happy that we didn't lose when finding ourselves down a goal with 11 minutes left."
Senior Sylvia Forbes, junior Liz Secue and sophomore Lauren Montenegro played the entire 110 minutes, while senior co-captain Jenny Bradfisch was in goal for 109:16 after missing the final 44 seconds of regulation because of blood coming from a cut above her eye.
Purdue outshot Wisconsin-Milwaukee 30-19, including 7-2 in the two overtime periods. Both teams put 10 shots on goal and took five corner kicks. The Panthers were whistled for nine fouls, while Purdue was called for only five.
Friday's game is the first time overtime contest for Purdue this season. The last overtime game for the Boilermakers took place Oct. 17, 2008 when they tied Indiana 1-1 in Bloomington. The last overtime game at the Varsity Soccer Complex was a 1-1 tie with Michigan on Oct. 3, 2008. Purdue is now 7-7-22 all-time in overtime games.
The Boilermakers return to action next Friday at Wisconsin in the Big Ten opener for both teams. The game is set to begin at 6 p.m. ET, and live results can be found at PurdueSports.com.