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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Maddy Williams converted on a second-half penalty kick to account for an equalizer as Purdue women's soccer closed out its 2014 season with a 1-1 draw with No. 25 Michigan Saturday evening at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex.
The Boilermakers finished their campaign with a 6-11-2 (2-10-1 Big Ten) record. Saturday was their third overtime game of the year, but first since winning at Northwestern Sept. 19. Purdue also played Youngstown State to a draw Sept. 7 in Northeast Ohio. It was the Boilers' first draw in Big Ten play since September 2012 vs. Illinois.
The Wolverines (12-4-3, 8-2-3 Big Ten) claimed the No. 3 seed in next week's Big Ten Tournament. They could have grabbed the No. 2 seed with a win, but instead settled for their third draw in the last four games. Michigan will play Minnesota in the last of the four quarterfinals Wednesday at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex. Purdue's home field is hosting all seven games of the tournament.
The Boilermakers were granted two penalty kicks following similar hand ball violations on Michigan players inside the 18-yard box. Williams converted in the 65th minute for her team-leading sixth goal of the season and 16th career. But Mollie Kuramoto hit the crossbar with her PK shot in the 93rd minute. Shots by Soraya Toppin-Herbert and Williams led to the hand ball whistles and penalty kick chances.
Michigan's Nicky Waldeck scored her team-leading 12th goal of the season to open the scoring in the 63rd minute. Jessica Heifetz connected a long pass up the center of the field to Waldeck at the top of the 18-yard box. Waldeck scored with a diagonal shot across the 18-yard box inside the right post.
Williams' goal was Purdue's first at home since the Sept. 14 win against Ohio State, a game in which she scored twice. The Boilermakers' home scoring drought ended at 426 consecutive minutes Saturday.
Goalkeepers Maddy Olsen and Erika Yohn both saw action and were busy amidst a wide open game. Olsen made four saves as the starter. Yohn took over at halftime and made seven saves in 65 minutes. The combined 11 saves represented a Purdue season high. Michigan goalkeeper Megan Hinz finished with six saves.
The Boilermakers remained winless against nationally-ranked opponents since 2009, but Saturday's draw was their first positive result against a Top 25 opponent since playing No. 20 Michigan State to a draw in October 2009. Entering the night, Purdue had lost 19 straight vs. ranked teams since that draw with MSU.
Holly Gregory, Vanessa Korolas, Mikayla Lasky, Kim Love, Makaela Nellams, Kuramoto and Williams all went the distance for the Boilers. Lasky finished the season having played every minute of every game (1,764 total minutes). Alex Hairston (103) also logged over 100 minutes. Christa Szalach played 73 minutes to lead the reserves.
Seniors Taylor Niewoit, Hairston, Kuramoto and Toppin-Herbert were honored prior to the game for their contributions to the program. Purdue will have to bid adieu to the quartet but is scheduled to return the majority of its current roster for the 2015 season.
The Big Ten Tournament at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex opens Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. with a Rutgers-Iowa quarterfinal.
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I tried to capture the unique throw in of @PurdueSoccer player @christaszalach tonight. pic.twitter.com/dhJvePmkjH
-- PinolaPhoto (@pinolaphoto) November 2, 2014