Sept. 5, 2009
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 14th-ranked Purdue women's soccer team earned a 1-0 win Saturday in front of 451 fans at the Varsity Soccer Complex in the second game of the Boilermaker Challenge Cup.
"I thought Valparaiso certainly presented a dilemma to us," head coach Robert Klatte said. "They set up shop in their half of the field so we couldn't break them down very easily. I thought they were very organized and hard-working, and that certainly was difficult for us to deal with. We were patient in the first half, perhaps even overly patient, but I thought our rotation of players and the pace and our defending really started to wear on them as the second half went on."
Purdue (4-0-0) controlled possession for the entire game. Valparaiso (2-4-0) came out in a 4-4-2 formation and packed people into the box with each Boilermaker run. The Boilermakers continually pelted the goalkeeper with shots, but could not break through with a goal until the 60th minute.
The goal came from the most likely source, senior co-captain Jessica Okoroafo. The Sylvania, Ohio, native scored her fourth goal and third game winner this season when she took a pass from freshman Vanessa Ibewuike on the right side of the penalty box and blasted a shot into the upper left corner of the net. Senior Katie Seeger also was credited with an assist after playing the ball to Ibewuike.
"I think we really worked hard," Okoroafo said. "It was one of those games where they just packed it in a lot in the back, so we had to find a way to get around them. We had a lot of shots and luckily got one to go in, but we have to have more of an attacking mindset to make sure we don't make it that close anymore."
The goal was the 31st of Okoroafo's career, which ties her with Annette Kent for second-highest total in school history. The school record of 34 was set by Lauren Sesselmann from 2001-05. Okoroafo also recorded the 15th game-winning goal of her career, which extends the school record she broke earlier this season.
Junior Liz Secue was shown a yellow card in the 62nd minute after a collision involving her, Purdue goalkeeper Jenny Bradfisch and a Valparaiso attacker at the top of the penalty box. When the Crusader ended up on the ground, the referee ran in and gave Secue her first caution of 2009.
Purdue has not allowed a goal in the last 170 minutes and 38 seconds of competition after keeping sixth-ranked Texas A&M off the scoreboard for the final 80:38 of that matchup on Aug. 28. Saturday's shutout was the second for Purdue this season and 11th of Bradfisch's career, which places her third on the program's all-time list. Secue, Sylvia Forbes and Remi Gibba played all 90 minutes on defense for the third time this season.
The Boilermakers held the edge in every statistical category except saves, which went 15-2 in favor of the Crusaders. Purdue outshot Valparaiso 35-5, put 16 shots on goal compared to two and took nine corner kicks while not allowing a single one.
"Our finishing still needs to improve," Klatte said. "But, I thought our organization in the box several times was spot on. It definitely was on our goal. We under hit the service, and if Vanessa doesn't make the near-post run they clear the ball out and once again it's a nothing attack. By making that run, she was able to give the ball to Oak, who first-timed it into the far-side netting. That type of combination play is what we are looking for. We just need more of them. We have to become more consistent with that."
Purdue wraps up the Boilermaker Challenge Cup against Ball State on Monday needing a win or tie to win its sixth Cup and defend last year's title. Ball State fell 3-2 to Valparaiso on Thursday to open the Boilermaker Challenge Cup. The game is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. ET. Live results and a radio broadcast of the game can be found at PurdueSports.com.