Boilers to face Georgetown today

By Greg Doddridge
Staff Writer

Purdue women's soccer coach Rob Klatte will meet a former assistant in the first round of this year's Boilermaker Challenge Cup.

Diane Drake is the coach at Georgetown and her Hoyas will play the Boilers for the first time ever at 4 p.m. today in the second game of the four-team tournament at the Varsity Soccer Complex. The first game features Southwest Missouri State and Miami (Ohio) at 1 p.m.

The first- and third-place matches will be played simultaneously at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on the fields at the Purdue Varsity Soccer Complex.

"Diane was my assistant when I coached at Wright State in 1994," said Klatte. "She is very hard-nosed and determined. I'm sure her team will replicate those qualities."

Klatte said the two of them have stayed in touch over the years, catching up on recruiting trips.

Klatte left Wright State in 1996 and came to Purdue for the inaugural season in 1998. The Hoyas are also a relatively young program, starting in 1993.

"I believe Georgetown is a side that has improvement and enough depth and experience and with their recruiting class, they are an NCAA tournament-quality team," said Klatte.

The Hoyas return nine starters from last year and recruited several new players.

"We brought in seven new faces including five regional team-experienced players and a transfer from the University of Arkansas," said Drake. "We are the most experienced team the Georgetown program has seen."

Junior forward Karin Ostrander and sophomore Jen Choiniere return from a Hoyas’ squad that went 8-9-2 last year. Ostrander and Choiniere both led the team in scoring last year with eight goals apiece.

Klatte said this tournament will be a test for the teams to see where they are.

"I think it is a good tournament," said Klatte. "I think all the teams here are very good. We have done a great job of providing ourselves and all of the other teams participating with some quality competition to start off the season."

Miami (Ohio) went to the NCAA Tournament last year. Purdue and Southwest Missouri State both went to their respective conference tournaments (Purdue in the Big Ten and Southwest Missouri State in the Western Athletic Conference), but neither made it to the NCAA Tournament.

"I think you have a bunch of people all striving for the same goal," said Klatte. "So, it's going to be competitive."

But the competitiveness will be with respect.

"The Boilermakers are a very strong side and we respect them very much," said Drake. "I am hoping my team is effective on the field and I do know they are excited to open the season with such a quality opponent."

Starting in Goal

Klatte has taken his time to determine the starting goalkeeper for the game today. He made his decision Thursday after practice. Senior Elizabeth Boldt will start in goal for the Boilers.

"Prior to our Big Ten season, we'll probably try to do some splitting of time with our two goalkeepers, whichever two are the most deserving to play, and that could change on both a game-by-game basis and a weekly basis," said Klatte.

With five goalkeepers on the roster, there is plenty of competition for those spots.

"For a player to maximize their potential, they have to be put into an environment where not only they push themselves, but they are pushed by the coaching staff and by their peers," said Klatte.

Promotions

The Purdue Athletic Department will be running promotions all year long at home soccer contests. Today is Opening Day and will feature gift certificates to contest winners. Sunday is Youth Day and the first 250 youths in attendance will receive water bottles.

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