Box Score: HTML / PDF /// Photo Gallery
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Northwestern scored the game's lone goal late in the first half to defeat Purdue women's soccer 1-0 on Friday evening, ending the Boilermakers' 11-game win streak in the series.
Less than one minute after NU's Maria Grygleski hit the right post with a penalty kick in the 42nd minute, Brenna Lovera gave the Wildcats the lead with her first goal of the season. She split two defenders on a run through the right flank, dribbling to the end line on the right of the goal. A well-placed flick eluded Purdue goalkeeper Erika Yohn and found its way inside the left post.
Northwestern (7-1-1, 1-0 Big Ten) posted its sixth shutout of the season by limiting the Boilers to three shots on goal. Purdue (5-3, 0-1 Big Ten) has now been shut out in back-to-back games and gone 235 consecutive minutes without a goal since scoring 15 times over the first six games.
Along with the penalty kick off the post and the game-winning goal, the eventful first half featured two diving saves by Yohn, a quality save by NU goalkeeper Lauren Clem and a header off the crossbar for the Wildcats. The Boilermakers had a 4-0 edge in corner kicks in the second half, but scoring chances were scarce for both sides over the final 45 minutes.
Head coach Drew Roff discusses #Purdue's 1-0 loss to Northwestern tonight in the B1G opener for both sides. http://t.co/HPGcjGjyeD
-- Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) September 19, 2015
Purdue had not lost to Northwestern since 2004. Entering the night, the 11-game win streak was the longest active run by any Purdue team sport against a Big Ten rival. However, the Boilers' recent struggles in Big Ten openers persisted as they remained winless in their first conference contest of the season since 2008.
Yohn made diving saves to her left in the seventh and 12th minutes on shots by Marisa Viggiano and Kourtney Scott, respectively. Clem's top save of the night was in the 29th minute on what appeared to be a bit of a change-up shot off the foot of Hannah Leinert. Nicole Robertson set up the opportunity with a long right-to-left cross that found Leinert in the heart of the 18-yard box. But Clem got her hand on the shot to deflect it over the crossbar.
Addie Steiner had her header go off the crossbar in the 22nd minute following a free kick service from the left flank. The ball stayed in play after caroming off the bar, but Purdue was able to clear.
Defender Mikayla Lasky was whistled for tripping up a Northwestern forward from behind inside the 18-yard box in the 42nd minute, leading to the penalty kick for the visitors. However, for the second Friday in a row a Purdue opponent hit the right post with a PK. The Boilermakers were able to block the ensuing shot by Steiner and clear the corner kick that followed.
Kim Love made her 43rd consecutive start and was the lone Purdue field player to go the distance. Gabby LaMere logged 60 minutes to lead the reserves, playing the entire second half at outside back after Vanessa Korolas moved from outside to center back for the second half. Andrea Petrina was the first Boilermaker off the bench, started the second half and logged 59 minutes.
Purdue returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Illinois at 1 p.m.
Receive Purdue Soccer news via email. Sign up HERE.