Michigan
9-5-2, 4-3-1Big Ten
Purdue
6-9-2, 3-4-1Big Ten
Ezurike Strikes Three Times to Push U-M Past Purdue
10/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 16, 2011
| Site: West Lafayette, Ind. (Varsity Soccer Complex)
Score: Michigan 3, Purdue 1
Records: U-M (9-5-2, 4-3-1 Big Ten), Purdue (6-9-2, 3-4-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 443
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 21 -- vs. Ohio State - Maize Out (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7 p.m.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Sophomore Nkem Ezurike (Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia/Sackville) netted the ninth hat trick in school history, helping the University of Michigan women's soccer team to a 3-1 victory at Purdue on Sunday (Oct. 16) at the Varsity Soccer Complex.
Ezurike becomes the seventh player in school history to record a hat trick -- the program's first since 2005 -- joining former Wolverines Jamie Artsis (Sept. 26, 2004), Abby Crumpton (Oct. 12, 2001, Sept. 27, 2002), Kacy Beitel (Oct. 17, 1997, Oct. 30, 2000), Ruth Poulin (Oct. 17, 1997), Marie Spaccarotella (Nov. 31, 1996) and Therese Heaton (Sept. 16, 2005). Ezurike now has 10 goals on the season, surpassing the total from her freshman year last season (nine). Additionally, she has scored the team's last six goals, a stretch that started back on Sept. 30 against Iowa.
Ezurike, who sat out Wednesday's game against Michigan State due to receiving five yellow cards on the season, broke the scoreless tie in the 63rd minute when she blasted a shot from 20 yards out that found the back of the net inside the left post. Freshman Chloe Sosenko (South Lyon, Mich./Brighton) was credited with an assist, her third of the season.
In the 81st minute, Ezurike scored her second goal when she fired a shot from the left flank on the edge of the 18-yard box to give Michigan a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Tori McCombs (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) was given the assist. Five minutes later, Ezurike capped the Wolverines' scoring with her third and final goal, bending a shot over the head of Purdue goalkeeper Cara Kridler. Freshman Jen Pace (Valley Village, Calif./Notre Dame) recorded the first points of her collegiate career with the assist.
Senior/junior goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer (Troy, Mich./Lahser) allowed a Purdue goal with just minutes remaining in the game but corralled four saves in net to preserve the win. She made a diving save to her left that maintained the 1-0 lead in the second half.
Michigan returns to the U-M Soccer Stadium for its final homestand of the season next weekend, first taking on archrival Ohio State on Friday (Oct. 21) at 7 p.m. The game has been designated as a Maize Out. The game can also been seen live through the all-access player on MGoBlue.com for a fee.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Purdue | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2nd -- U-M, Nkem Ezurike, 62:34 (Chloe Sosenko)
2nd -- U-M, Ezurike, 80:13 (Tori McCombs)
2nd -- U-M, Ezurike, 85:44 (Jen Pace)
2nd -- PUR, Kellie Phillips, 86:57 (Hadley Stuart)
Shots: U-M 17, PUR 13
Shots on Goal: U-M 4, PUR 5
Saves: U-M 4 (Haley Kopmeyer), PUR 1 (Cara Kridler)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, PUR 6
Cards: None.
Contact: Brad Rudner (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
EZURIKE, Nkem (8)
Assisted By: SOSENKO, Chloe
20 yards out center of the field inside
62:34
EZURIKE, Nkem (9)
Assisted By: MCCOMBS, Tori
Left flank top of the 18 inside left pos
80:13
EZURIKE, Nkem (10)
Assisted By: PACE, Jen
Hard right flank bender into top of goal
85:44
PHILLIPS, Kellie (6)
Assisted By: STUART, Hadley
Point blank center after right to left c
86:57
