Nov. 2, 2006

Final Stats | Tournament Central

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Third-seeded Purdue kicked off the 2006 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament in thrilling fashion. Sophomore Sylvia Forbes connected on her fourth goal of the season to secure the Boilermaker's 2-1 overtime victory over sixth-seeded Ohio State on Thursday morning at Penn State's Jeffrey Field.

Despite several near-misses, Purdue's offensive attack delivered when it counted and relied on senior goalkeeper Lauren Mason's nine saves to keep the Boilermaker's title run alive.

With the score even at 1-all at the end of a physical regulation period, the two squads headed into overtime. The Boilermakers struck first in the extra minutes when junior midfielder Jill Sarbaugh delivered a header in the six, but her shot was quickly blocked by Ohio State.

The Boilermakers bobbled the ball around after a corner kick in the 93rd minute from Shauna Stapleton, but then Kira Bilecky took control and sent it to Sarbaugh. The junior midfielder dished it high to Forbes who headed in the game-winning shot from the near post to the left corner.

The teams exchanged opportunities throughout the first half, but both defenses were up to the challenge and the game remained scoreless until Ohio State seized its first opporunity of the second stanza.

Rookie Ashley Bowyer's first shot in 48th minute was deflected back to her before she drilled her next kick past a diving Mason from about 30 feet out. The Buckeyes' All-Freshman midfielder notched the first goal of her career to put Ohio State ahead 1-0.

The Boilermakers wasted no time sulking in the deficit.

Less than 20 seconds later on the other end of the field, Jessica Okarafo sent a cross sailing into the six from the right side but OSU keeper Lauren Robertson couldn't get around the crown at the net to make a save. An All-Big Ten first team selection, Okarafo tallied her eighth goal on the season on an assist from Kristin Hetzel. The score leveled the contest at 1-all at 49:12.

Ohio State's best chance came when Caitlin Colfer was able to weave through the Purdue defense in the 60th minute and headed another shot toward the Boilermaker goal, but Mason was unfazed and scooped it up to squash the scoring threat. , but it sailed high above the crossbar.

The teams battled in the midfield for the better part of the half, exchanging spurratic opportunities, but with neither defense broke down. Purdue had the last chance of regulation with a shot from Stapleton in the final seconds, but Robertson came up withstood the challenge for one of her five saves.

As the clock ran out at the end of the first half, Grubb nailed a well-aimed shot from not far past the center circle that nearly slipped past Mason between the Purdue posts. A leaping Mason punched the ball over the crossbar to keep the game scoreless at the half.

The Boilermakers, which entered the tournament leading the league in shots (346), were out-shot 19-13 but relied on the defensive leadership of All-Big Ten first team goalkeeper Mason in the clutch.

With the win, Purdue improves to 13-4-3 on the season and advances to Friday's first semifinal game, where it will face the winner of second-seeded Illinois versus defending tournament champion Wisconsin at 4:30 p.m. ET.