Women’s soccer team to face Penn State

By Greg Doddridge
Staff Writer

The Purdue women's soccer team has hit a peak and a valley in Big Ten play, and the conference season is only two games old.

The Boilers defeated then-No. 23 Wisconsin 3-0 on Sept. 20. That win established a high point for the team until a 2-1 loss to Northwestern in the final seconds on Sunday. But Purdue coach Rob Klatte instilled in his players the mantra of taking the emotions of a big win and tough loss into perspective.

"(The Wisconsin game) was a good win for us," said sophomore forward Courtney Coppedge, who has four goals and one assist on the year. "I would definitely say it was a boost, but you can never get too high in the Big Ten season, and when you lose you can never get too low because you are up one minute and down the next minute."

At 4 p.m. today at the Purdue Varsity Soccer Complex, the Boilers (4-3, 1-1 Big Ten) have a chance to rebound against No. 7 Penn State (5-2, 1-0).

However, Penn State is a solid team. Klatte said the Nittany Lions have depth, speed, size and a good defense.

"I think Penn State will be our most challenging game of the year," said Coppedge.

Penn State junior forward Christie Welsh, who is the most recent Big Ten offensive player of the week, has been instrumental for the Nittany Lions this year.

Welsh leads or is tied for the lead in seven of nine Big Ten offensive statistical categories this season. She has amassed 16 points and six goals this season, including two game winners. Welsh also has four assists.

Both teams average approximately 16 shots per game and allow approximately 1.15 goals per game.

But the Nittany Lions will have to contend with a Purdue defense that makes 5.57 saves per game, the fourth-best average in the conference.

Penn State is tied for last place in the conference, with 2.83 saves per game.

Yet, with the potent offensive potential of the Nittany Lions' Welsh, Klatte said the Boilers will have to be organized and focused with a strong work ethic.

"We will have to play to our best ability to beat that team," said Klatte.

Purdue came close to upsetting Penn State, the defending Big Ten regular season and tournament champions, last year on Sept. 24, losing 2-1.

Coppedge scored a little more than six minutes into the game. Welsh countered with a goal about three minutes before halftime. The score remained tied until nine minutes to go in the game when Penn State's Joanna Lohman scored.

"The players that have been on the team from last year, they have been able to experience both sides of dramatic, heart-stopping, grand-stand finishes," said Klatte. "It's part of the game."

Ohio State Game Changed

Purdue's originally scheduled game against Ohio State at 1 p.m. Sunday has been rescheduled for 4 p.m. Monday at the Purdue Varsity Soccer Complex.

Ohio State men's soccer player Conner Senn passed away on Wednesday and the Ohio State women's soccer team will attend a memorial service for him on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.

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