BIG WIN IN BIG TEN

No. 19 Ohio State remained in control of first place in the Big Ten standings with a crucial 1-0 victory over then-No. 18 Purdue on Oct. 25 as the Buckeyes ended a seven-game losing streak to the Boilermakers.

The Buckeyes, who are 6-1-1 in Big Ten play, are off to the best start in school history at 13-2-2.  Ohio State is riding a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) as it enters its final home game against Indiana on Nov. 1. 

"It is a big win for everybody on our team because nobody here has been able to beat Purdue in their career," said Colleen Brady, who netted the game-winning goal in overtime.

Senior goalkeeper Lauren Robertson posted her third consecutive shutout against the Boilermakers for her 12^th of the season, a school record.  The native of Mission Viejo, Calif., was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season for her outstanding play.

COUGARS IN CONTROL

No. 21 BYU stretched its unbeaten streak to 12 games with a 3-0 win over Air Force in Mountain West Conference play as the Cougars maintained sole possession of first place in the league standings. 

The Cougars have shutout 11 opponents led by sophomore goalkeeper McKinzie Olson, who has collected a career-best 10 on the season.

BYU will play its final non-conference game on Oct. 28 at Weber State and conclude the regular season in a MWC match-up versus Wyoming on Oct. 31.

CONFERENCE CLINCHERS

Missouri claimed its first Big 12 regular season title after a resounding 5-0 victory over Nebraska on Oct. 25 as the Tigers improved to 7-0-3 in league play.  The Huskers entered the match-up as the fourth-best scoring offense in the nation (3.31 gpg).  It is the first Big 12 regular season title for any Missouri sports team since the softball program won in 1997.

Morehead State clinched at least a share of the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship with a 1-0 overtime victory over Eastern Illinois on Oct. 25 thanks to Stephanie Gildehaus' corner kick header.  It is the Eagles' first regular season crown in program history and gives them the right to host the OVC Tournament on Nov. 5-6, 8. 

Illinois State claimed the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title for the third consecutive season as the Redbirds blanked Drake, 2-0, on Oct. 25.  The Redbirds have won a program-record eight straight games, tying the 2001 squad.  This is ISU's seventh conference title.  The Redbirds look to remain unbeaten in MVC play as they travel to Missouri State to conclude the regular season on Oct. 29.

ONE MORE STEP

Following a 2-1 victory over Tulsa last week, No. 11 UCF grabbed at least a share of the Conference USA regular season championship for the third time in the last five years, and the Knights can still challenge for their first outright league title since winning the Atlantic Sun crown in 2003.

The Knights will enter their regular season final versus Southern Miss on Oct. 30 on an eight-game winning streak.  UCF has picked up four straight one-goal wins for the first time in school history.

A LONG TRIP

Defending NCAA champion North Carolina's trip to the Sunshine State last week was certainly no vacation as the Tar Heels suffered back-to-back losses in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the first time since 2000 and only the second time in program history.  UNC fell to Florida State, 3-2, in double overtime on Oct. 22, and then surrendered at Miami, 1-0, on Sunday. 

The Tar Heels' three ACC losses match the 2000 team for the most in a season, a squad that went on to win the ACC Tournament and NCAA title.  UNC looks to get back on the winning track as it hosts Clemson in the final regular season contest on Oct. 29.