WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Erika Arkans scored her fifth goal of the season to end Purdue women's soccer's three-game scoring drought, but Iowa responded with three first-half goals to defeat the Boilermakers, 3-1, Sunday afternoon.
Purdue (6-10-1, 2-9 Big Ten) was eliminated from Big Ten Tournament contention with the loss. However, all seven games of the Big Ten Tournament will still be played at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex, Nov. 5-9.
The Boilermakers dropped their eighth straight game Sunday, a losing streak that now stands as the longest in program history. Purdue has been outscored 17-2 during the extended skid.
However, for the second time during the losing streak, the Boilers scored first. In the 11th minute, Arkans scored into a wide open net from the left side of the six-yard box after Maddy Williams' shot deflected off an Iowa defender. A right-to-left pass from Alex Hairston started the scoring sequence. Arkans matched Williams for the team lead in goals. It was the freshman's first since scoring the overtime game-winner Sept. 19 at Northwestern.
Arkans' goal ended Purdue's scoring drought at 367 consecutive minutes as the team's first marker since Makaela Nellams found the back of the net in the third minute of the Oct. 2 game at Maryland.
But the Hawkeyes (11-4-1, 6-3-1 Big Ten) received two goals from Cloe Lacasse, who pushed her season total to nine, as well as Emily Scott's first score of the year. Lacasse scored a quick equalizer in the 13th minute on a long shot from 35 yards out into the right corner of the net. The Canadian scored again in the 40th minute with a lofted shot over the top of goalkeeper Maddy Olsen. She posted a multi-goal game against the Boilers for the second year in a row.
Lacasse also assisted on Scott's goal in the 21st minute that proved to be the game-winner.
Olsen replaced Jordan Ginther at goalkeeper in the 26th minute, the freshman seeing her first action since starting the Aug. 31 win against SIU Edwardsville. Olsen made a season-high six saves and Ginther was credited with three in 25 minutes. The Purdue defense was also credited with a team save on a shot by Natalie Krygier in the 44th minute. The combined 10 saves represent a season high and the Boilers most since making 11 in an October 2012 loss to Minnesota.
Vanessa Korolas, Mollie Kuramoto, Mikayla Lasky and Kim Love went the distance for Purdue. Olsen logged 65 minutes to lead the reserves and Megan Kaser's 42 minutes were the most among the field players off the bench.
Sunday was the Boilers' final road game of the season. They'll close out their campaign with home games against Indiana and Michigan over the next two Saturdays. The Oct. 25 home game against rival Indiana has been designated as the annual special jerseys game. Purdue will wear pink uniforms Saturday in honor of breast cancer awareness.
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