Purdue soccer team to play in key game today

By Greg Doddridge
Staff Writer

This weekend will be huge for the Purdue women’s soccer team, according to coach Rob Klatte.

The Boilers (6-4-1, 2-2-1 Big Ten) play Michigan State at 4 p.m. today in East Lansing, Mich. The game is important for positioning in the conference standings because both teams are tied for sixth place in the conference with seven points apiece.

Purdue then travels to play Michigan at1 p.m. Sunday in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Wolverines (6-5-0, 4-2-0) are tied for second in the conference.

"We are going into this weekend with a desire to win two games," said Klatte.

The Boilers are an automatic qualifier into the Big Ten Tournament because they host the tournament (Nov. 8-11), but Klatte said he doesn't want to have to rely on that to get into the tournament, which is a tournament involving the top eight teams in the conference.

"I think second place is still attainable," said Klatte.

Penn State leads the conference with 13 points from four wins and a tie (a team receives three points for a win and one point for a tie). The Nittany Lions' tie came against Purdue. Illinois is tied with Michigan for second place in the conference with 12 points. Klatte said winning the Big Ten regular-season title outright would be tough.

"Our motivation is winning the rest of our games, winning the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament," said Klatte.

He said this time of the year is difficult because the Big Ten season is tightening-up, teams are looking for wins to get into position for an NCAA Tournament bid and the athletes are starting to feel increased pressure from their academic loads.

"The games in the latter half of the season become more recognizable," said Klatte. "The points from a win are very valuable."

Sophomore Tiffany Laskowski leads the Spartans (5-4-2, 2-3-1) with five goals and 29 shots.

"Michigan State is an organized side," said Klatte. "Laskowski is definitely a good player. They have an organized team. We mirror each other a lot."

Purdue will look to use its organized defense to stop Laskowski. Senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Boldt won the Big Ten defensive player of the week award two weekends ago and junior defender Elise Berry won the award last weekend.

Purdue will face three solid Michigan forwards on Sunday afternoon.

Juniors Amy Sullivant (four goals and four assists) and Abby Crumpton (three goals and three assists), along with sophomore Stephanie Chavez (three goals and three assists), lead the Wolverines frontline.

"We can only control the things that we can control," said Klatte. "We communicate and remain controlled and organized on defense. We have a willingness to work defensively."

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