Kate Nadalin ran with open arms toward the pile of players thatsurrounded Dee Nocero. She wanted in on the celebration.
The Cardinals (11-6-2) scored the only goal of the game in thesecond half on their only corner kick opportunity of the game.Nadalin set the ball down and let fly a kick that sailed across thegoal mouth to the waiting head of Nocero, who nodded it pastPurdue's goalie Lauren Mason.
"I saw (the ball) coming over, and I felt like there was nobodyreally around me," Nocero said. "I didn't really have to do muchwork because it was a perfectly placed ball, and it just kind ofhit my head and went in."
Purdue threatened numerous times in the game and dominated thegoal-scoring chances. The best attempt came on the Boilermakersninth corner kick of the match late in the second half. FullbackSarah Maxwell made one of the biggest saves of the game when shecleared a ball from the Cardinals' end line off the cornerkick.
"The reality was everyone on the field was one of our bestdefenders today," head coach Ron Rainey said.
Fullback Michelle Dineen said the key to the match was preparingmentally to face the tough Purdue offense.
"We knew we were going to have a lot of shots," she said. "Weknew we were going to be playing defense most of the game, so aslong as we stayed organized and went in hard we knew we were goingto be okay."�
Ball State mustered two shots on goal, and Nocero said the teamknew going into the game shots would be few and far between againstthe Purdue defense.
With less than five minutes left in the match, the clocksstopped on every substitution, and Purdue head coach Robert Klatteshuttled his goalkeepers in and out on every chance possible,trying to lengthen the game and give his team every possible chanceto win.
Purdue entered the match receiving votes for the Coaches Top 25and ranked No. 19, according to Soccer Buzz Magazine. Dineen saidthe victory over Purdue was extra special because of SeniorDay.
"It really means a lot, and it's definitely memorable," shesaid.
The Senior Day crowd that watched six players honored at thebeginning of the match set a Ball State soccer attendance recordwith 611 people.
Ball State begins play in the Mid-American Conference Tournamenton Tuesday against Central Michigan, and Nocero said the victoryover Purdue give the team a boost of confidence going into thetournament.
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