Oct. 31, 2010
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Kaitlyn Blacha scored her first career goal only 21 seconds after kickoff, but Penn State responded with six unanswered goals, scoring six for the second game in a row, to cruise past Purdue women's soccer, 6-1, Sunday afternoon in the home finale at the Varsity Soccer Complex.
Blacha scored from 25 yards out on the left flank into the bottom right corner of the net off a double assist from Kellie Phillips and Alexis Tryba. After Tryba had the first touch of the game, Phillips connected a long lead pass to Blacha, who also made her first career start Sunday.
Blacha's accounted for the quickest goal by a Purdue player to begin a game since Sylvia Forbes scored with the opening kickoff (four seconds in) in last year's win at No. 6 Texas A&M.
Penn State (9-8-1, 7-2 Big Ten) equalized in the 17th minute on Danielle Toney's seventh goal of the season. Tani Costa later scored twice, recording what proved to be the game-winner in the 27th minute and the first goal of the second half in the 50th minute. She leads the team with eight goals.
Christine Narin (54th minute), Maya Hayes (77th minute) and Hayley Brock (80th minute) also scored in the second half for the Nittany Lions.
The six goals allowed were the most Purdue had surrendered in a game since giving up seven in a 2003 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 loss at North Carolina. The Boilermakers (6-11-2, 2-6-1 Big Ten) had not given up six goals at home since 1999.
"We actually played the soccer in the first half we were looking to play," Purdue head coach Robert Klatte said. "You had a moment where an individual great play was made by a forward on their side that creates their first goal. We made a mistake on their second one. That's a key goal; it settles their nerves going to halftime up 2-1. The second half, it was a combination of their talent really started to tell - their play making ability and athleticism - and we didn't step and do some simple things. We made a mountain out of a sizable hill. We've got to find ways to make that 6-1 result into a 3-1 result. Eliminating the mistakes we made can do that for you. Then it's a matter of being better organized."
Toney powered her way up the field and through the Purdue defense before banking in a shot off the left post.
Costa scored her first goal after a fortune deflection that left the PSU forward one-v-one against Purdue goalkeeper Carianne Betts. Brookley Rogers blocked Costa's initial shot attempt but the ball returned to Costa's feet for an easy scoring chance that she finished into the left side of the net.
Costa scored her fifth goal of the week with a more impressive shot into the top right corner of the net early in the second half.
Betts finished with five saves in 85 minutes of action in net. Yana Lyon relieved her for the final five minutes. Penn State `keeper Krissy Tribbett only had to make two saves while going the distance.
Jordan Frick, Katie Leinert, Phillips and Rogers went the distance among the Purdue field players. Tayler Francel logged 53 minutes to lead the reserves.
Purdue concludes its season Saturday evening at Iowa. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. (ET) in Iowa City.