University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Fall in a Heartbreaker to No. 25 Purdue
9/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
The University of Minnesota soccer team (6-3-1, 0-2-0) fought for 90-plus minutes on Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind., but in the end lost a heartbreaker to the No. 25 Purdue Boilermakers (9-1-2, 2-0-0), who sit atop the Big Ten standings. Purdue’s Parrissa Eyorokon scored the game-winner just 41 seconds into overtime to allow Purdue to escape with a narrow 1-0 victory.
After a sub-par performance on Friday night, the Golden Gophers came out with a chip on their shoulders on Sunday and turned in one of their best defensive performances of the season against the top attacking team in the Big Ten. Purdue entered the game leading the league in shots, points and assists and ranked second in goals.
Chelsey Turner made five saves in the contest and allowed just her second goal of the season, both of which have come against top-25 teams.
Seeking to take the initiative, the Gophers took it right at the Boilermakers early on. Midfielders Kaitlin Wagner and Kelly Wepking ran at the Purdue defense and slipped a number of balls in behind to onrushing forwards Lindsey Schwartz and Elena Fruci. Minnesota’s attack produced four corner kicks in the first half and put the Boilermaker defense under heavy pressure.
Purdue had opportunities in the first half as well, but they were stifled by a combination of tough defensive play and solid goalkeeping by Turner. The three staples of the Minnesota backline, Hailey McCarthy, Lyndsey Mueller, and Marti Klinsing stymied the Purdue attack, conceding shots from distance that were confidently dealt with by Turner in goal.
The game continued as a back-and-forth battle through the second half as well, with neither team able to capitalize with the momentum in their favor. The Gophers had their best chance to finish when Fruci penetrated the Purdue backline, but pressure by the onrushing goalkeeper and a recovering defender caused Fruci to rush her effort, sending it just wide of the near post.
Another good chance came when midfielder Kelsey Hood leaped high into the air and headed a cross from the right side toward the far post, but her effort was saved by Purdue goalkeeper Lauren Mason.
After finishing the game with the momentum, the Gophers went into the overtime break full of confidence. However, their hopes were quickly dashed 41 seconds in when Boilermaker midfielder Jill Sarbaugh sent a low cross in behind the Minnesota defense to an onrushing Eyorokon, who finished a scramble at the top of the six-yard box with a low strike to the near corner of the goal.
The Golden Gophers return to host their Big Ten home opener on “Break the Attendance Record Night” Friday at 7 p.m., at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. On Sunday, Minnesota will take on Wisconsin in the annual “Border Battle” at 1 p.m.
Post-game Quotes
Head Coach Mikki Denney Wright
On the team’s improved performance from Friday night:
“We were so much better today than on Friday. We played really, really well. Purdue had some shots but not any real dangerous opportunities. It was a heartbreaking loss, but we played really well.”
On the team’s mood after the game:
“They feel so much better because we actually played good soccer. Friday night our team was so distraught because we were so bad. But today they rebounded in every single way. There were so many kids who had outstanding performances. We’re not very deep, so for us to come out on a Sunday and give that kind of effort was tremendous.”
On Minnesota’s attack:
“We’re disappointed with our attacking performance in back-to-back games. We need to get better in that aspect and our attackers have taken responsibility for that and know they have to take their chances and finish their chances.
“We had some good chances today, mainly from our outside midfielders crossing it into the box.”
On Minnesota’s defensive performance:
“Defensively, as a group, we were rock solid. It was a really good weekend in that aspect. Purdue is the best attacking team in the Big Ten, so to hold them to one goal in overtime, we feel pretty good about that.”
On what the team can take away from the weekend:
“Two things we’ve worked on are being better on Sunday and being better on the road. We gave a great performance today. We weren’t good on Friday – we did not play our brand of soccer. But today, we possessed and kept the ball. It was a fun game to be in and it was a fun game to watch. I was just proud of how we rebounded.”
On the rest of the Big Ten season:
“There are eight more Big Ten games, and anything can happen in the Big Ten. The way we were able to compete today bodes well for our young group. All of the games we have left are all going to be big games. I feel a lot better about it walking away from our performance today.”
Game Notes
The Golden Gophers have now held nine of their 10 opponents this season to one goal or fewer. Minnesota has now held 19 of its last 20 opponents, and 25 of 29 over the last two seasons, to one goal or fewer.
Minnesota did not allow Purdue’s Sylvia Forbes to get off a single shot attempt. She entered the match leading the Big Ten in shots.
Chelsey Turner gave up just her second goal of the season in four starts. Both of her goals allowed have come against top-25 teams.
Minnesota lost back-to-back games for the first time since falling in its last two games of the 2005 season to top-ranked Penn State, 0-1, and to Illinois, 0-1, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. That was also the last time the Gophers were shut out in consecutive games.
The Gophers were swept in a road weekend for the first time since Oct. 1-3, 2004 at Illinois and at Northwestern.
After a sub-par performance on Friday night, the Golden Gophers came out with a chip on their shoulders on Sunday and turned in one of their best defensive performances of the season against the top attacking team in the Big Ten. Purdue entered the game leading the league in shots, points and assists and ranked second in goals.
Chelsey Turner made five saves in the contest and allowed just her second goal of the season, both of which have come against top-25 teams.
Seeking to take the initiative, the Gophers took it right at the Boilermakers early on. Midfielders Kaitlin Wagner and Kelly Wepking ran at the Purdue defense and slipped a number of balls in behind to onrushing forwards Lindsey Schwartz and Elena Fruci. Minnesota’s attack produced four corner kicks in the first half and put the Boilermaker defense under heavy pressure.
Purdue had opportunities in the first half as well, but they were stifled by a combination of tough defensive play and solid goalkeeping by Turner. The three staples of the Minnesota backline, Hailey McCarthy, Lyndsey Mueller, and Marti Klinsing stymied the Purdue attack, conceding shots from distance that were confidently dealt with by Turner in goal.
The game continued as a back-and-forth battle through the second half as well, with neither team able to capitalize with the momentum in their favor. The Gophers had their best chance to finish when Fruci penetrated the Purdue backline, but pressure by the onrushing goalkeeper and a recovering defender caused Fruci to rush her effort, sending it just wide of the near post.
Another good chance came when midfielder Kelsey Hood leaped high into the air and headed a cross from the right side toward the far post, but her effort was saved by Purdue goalkeeper Lauren Mason.
After finishing the game with the momentum, the Gophers went into the overtime break full of confidence. However, their hopes were quickly dashed 41 seconds in when Boilermaker midfielder Jill Sarbaugh sent a low cross in behind the Minnesota defense to an onrushing Eyorokon, who finished a scramble at the top of the six-yard box with a low strike to the near corner of the goal.
The Golden Gophers return to host their Big Ten home opener on “Break the Attendance Record Night” Friday at 7 p.m., at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. On Sunday, Minnesota will take on Wisconsin in the annual “Border Battle” at 1 p.m.
Post-game Quotes
Head Coach Mikki Denney Wright
On the team’s improved performance from Friday night:
“We were so much better today than on Friday. We played really, really well. Purdue had some shots but not any real dangerous opportunities. It was a heartbreaking loss, but we played really well.”
On the team’s mood after the game:
“They feel so much better because we actually played good soccer. Friday night our team was so distraught because we were so bad. But today they rebounded in every single way. There were so many kids who had outstanding performances. We’re not very deep, so for us to come out on a Sunday and give that kind of effort was tremendous.”
On Minnesota’s attack:
“We’re disappointed with our attacking performance in back-to-back games. We need to get better in that aspect and our attackers have taken responsibility for that and know they have to take their chances and finish their chances.
“We had some good chances today, mainly from our outside midfielders crossing it into the box.”
On Minnesota’s defensive performance:
“Defensively, as a group, we were rock solid. It was a really good weekend in that aspect. Purdue is the best attacking team in the Big Ten, so to hold them to one goal in overtime, we feel pretty good about that.”
On what the team can take away from the weekend:
“Two things we’ve worked on are being better on Sunday and being better on the road. We gave a great performance today. We weren’t good on Friday – we did not play our brand of soccer. But today, we possessed and kept the ball. It was a fun game to be in and it was a fun game to watch. I was just proud of how we rebounded.”
On the rest of the Big Ten season:
“There are eight more Big Ten games, and anything can happen in the Big Ten. The way we were able to compete today bodes well for our young group. All of the games we have left are all going to be big games. I feel a lot better about it walking away from our performance today.”
Game Notes
The Golden Gophers have now held nine of their 10 opponents this season to one goal or fewer. Minnesota has now held 19 of its last 20 opponents, and 25 of 29 over the last two seasons, to one goal or fewer.
Minnesota did not allow Purdue’s Sylvia Forbes to get off a single shot attempt. She entered the match leading the Big Ten in shots.
Chelsey Turner gave up just her second goal of the season in four starts. Both of her goals allowed have come against top-25 teams.
Minnesota lost back-to-back games for the first time since falling in its last two games of the 2005 season to top-ranked Penn State, 0-1, and to Illinois, 0-1, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. That was also the last time the Gophers were shut out in consecutive games.
The Gophers were swept in a road weekend for the first time since Oct. 1-3, 2004 at Illinois and at Northwestern.
Players Mentioned
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