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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- No. 13 Wisconsin's McKenna Meuer headed in a second-half corner kick and it proved to be the only goal of the day as Purdue women's soccer lost in 1-0 fashion for the second time this weekend and fourth time this season Sunday afternoon at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex.
The Badgers (10-1, 4-1 Big Ten) posted their Big Ten-leading eighth shutout of the season while winning in West Lafayette for the third year in a row. It was the first shutout in the series since the teams played to a scoreless draw at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex in September 2010.
Purdue (6-5-1, 2-4 Big Ten) remained winless against Wisconsin since 2008. All five of the Boilers' losses this season have come in shutout fashion. Purdue has now been shut out in three straight games since winning in overtime at Northwestern Sept. 19. The Boilermakers have been blanked in three straight for the first time since October 2011 while dropping consecutive games in 1-0 fashion for the first time since November 2006.
Goalkeeper Jordan Ginther made a career-high eight saves, matching Erika Yohn for the most saves by a Purdue `keeper this year. But Meuer was able to convert on a point blank header at the right post on UW's fourth and final corner kick of the day, served in by Rose Lavelle from the southwest corner of the field. It was Meuer's first goal of the season.
Makaela Nellams missed wide right from the top of the six-yard box in the 16th minute on what proved to be the Boilers' best scoring chance of the day. Maddy Williams setup the chance with a nice run down the right flank before playing a short right-to-left cross to Nellams unmarked in front of the net.
Andrea Petrina hit the crossbar with a bending strike from about 25 yards out on the right flank with the game's first shot in the fifth minute.
Wisconsin goalkeeper Genevieve Richard made her best save of the day in the 14th minute when she dove to her right to snare a ground shot off the foot of Maddy Williams from the right flank.
Ginther's best save came in the 44th minute when she reached above her head to knock down a rocketed shot by Lavelle from the top of the 18-yard box. Another strong effort from Ginther came in the ninth minute when she came off her line to make a save on the move on UW's Kinley McNicoll.
Purdue had a pair of corner kick opportunities along with three shots after Wisconsin took the lead in the 65th minute. But the Badgers took control of the run of play early in the second half and the Boilers were unable to ever really flip the momentum back in their favor.
Vanessa Korolas, Mollie Kuramoto, Mikayla Lasky and Kim Love went the distance among the Purdue field players. Nellams and Petrina started Sunday as the Boilers changed up their formation, going with five defensive and five offensive field players to start. Gianna Milaro logged 41 minutes to lead the reserves in her first action since the Sept. 12 Big Ten opener against Penn State.
During pregame introductions, Purdue's starters held up letters that read #DeeStrong in support of Wisconsin's campaign this season. The Badgers have rallied around their freshman midfielder Alexis Tye, whose mom Dee is currently battling cancer.
The Boilermakers travel to the East Coast next week for their first Big Ten games against conference newcomers Maryland and No. 25 Rutgers. The road trip begins with Thursday's 7 p.m. game at Maryland.
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Beyond grateful for @PurdueSoccer for doing this to support my mom @schmidt_dee #deestrong â¤️â¤️â¤️ pic.twitter.com/mq9r5Rt243
-- Alexis Tye (@tyedye_16) September 28, 2014