WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Minnesota scored the lone goal of the night in the 75th minute off a nice give-and-go sequence on the right side of the 18-yard box, defeating Purdue women's soccer, 1-0, Friday evening at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex.
The Gophers' Simone Kolander headed in a short right-to-left cross from Josee Stiever near the right post for her team-leading fifth goal of the season. Minnesota was victorious in West Lafayette for the third year in a row, but it was the first shutout in the series for either side since the Gophers upset ninth-ranked Purdue, 1-0, in October 2009 in West Lafayette.
Each of the Boilers' three home losses this season has come in 1-0 fashion on a Friday night. Both teams managed only three shots on goal.
Purdue goalkeeper Jordan Ginther returned to action for the first time since leaving the Aug. 29 home win against Ball State due to a leg contusion. The sophomore made the best save of the night in the 26th minute when she reacted quickly to get her hand on a one-touch blast from the top of the 18-yard box off the foot of Ashley Pafko after a corner kick was deflected away from the net. The ball caromed off the crossbar and was cleared by Kim Love.
Purdue head coach Robert Klatte said he thought Minnesota (5-5-0, 2-2-0 Big Ten) owned the run of play in the first half and felt fortunate the game was scoreless at the half. The Boilermakers turned the tables in the early minutes of the second half but were unable to capitalize with a goal.
Maddy Williams was tripped from behind as she was setting up to shoot in the 50th minute as Purdue looked to counter off the Gophers' first corner kick of the second half. The referee ruled the contact was incidental and allowed play to continue.
About 11 minutes later, Erika Arkans connected a left-to-right cross from the west sideline to Williams in the heart of the 18-yard box. Williams got off a clean one-touch shot, but Minnesota goalkeeper Tarah Hobbs was in position in the middle of the net to make the save.
Arkans also forced Hobbs to make a save in the 83rd minute following a nice run up the middle of the field from midfield.
Holly Gregory, Vanessa Korolas, Mollie Kuramoto and Mikayla Lasky went the distance among the Purdue field players. Christa Szalach logged 48 minutes to reserves and started the second half.
The Boilermakers (6-4-1, 2-3-0 Big Ten) return to action Sunday when they host No. 13 Wisconsin at 1 p.m. It will mark the third weekend in a row Purdue has squared off against a nationally ranked side, a first for the program since 2005.
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Bringing back so many amazing memories😍😍âš½️âš½️ @PurdueSoccer #MissThisPlace #DreamsDoComeTrue pic.twitter.com/TkxClXOdA1
-- Lauren Sesselmann (@lsesselmann) September 26, 2014Soccer PU vs Minn #Boilermaker #BoilerUp @PurdueSoccer pic.twitter.com/FECge7AOlM
-- John Underwood (@JohnUnd) September 26, 2014