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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue women's soccer received goals from three different players to defeat Illinois 3-1 in front of a record crowd at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The Boilermakers (6-3, 1-1 Big Ten) remained unbeaten (6-0-3) all-time at home against Illinois (6-2-1, 0-1-1 Big Ten). The record crowd of 1,488 was made possible in part by a strong showing from local youth soccer organizations the Greater Lafayette Regional Soccer Alliance and Boilers FC.
Hannah Mussallem gave Purdue a halftime lead with her first collegiate goal in the 35th minute. Andrea Petrina and Hannah Leinert scored just over four minutes apart in the second half to blow the game open. It marked the second time this season that three Boilermakers scored in the same game.
Illinois' Katie Murray scored in the 89th minute to deny goalkeeper Erika Yohn and the Purdue defense of a shutout. But Yohn did make six saves to tie her season high. Dannah Williams saw her first action of the season at center back on Sunday, going the distance along with fellow center back Kim Love as well as defensive midfielder Melissa Casella.
Great win for @PurdueSoccer this afternoon in front of a record home crowd of nearly 1,500 people. #BoilerUp http://t.co/8sd39yx9Su
-- Purdue Athletics (@PurdueSports) September 20, 2015
Maddy Williams set up the goals by Mussallem and Leinert with well-placed right-to-left crosses, recording her second career multi-assist game. Leinert set up Petrina's goal for her fourth assist, tying her with Vanessa Korolas for the team lead.
Mussallem had entered the game along with Erika Arkans as Purdue's first subs of the day only two and a half minutes before scoring the game's first goal. Her well-timed run through the heart of the 18-yard box put her in position to score point blank off Maddy Williams' cross. Mussallem, an Illinois native, joined Casella as Boilermakers to score their first collegiate goals this season.
Two Purdue goals were waved off due to an offsides and a foul call, respectively, before the home side finally got on the board. Nicole Robertson and Leinert each had shots hit the back of the net during those sequences. Leinert's non-goal was only about a minute before Mussallem scored.
Petrina scored her third goal of the season in the 59th minute with a shot from the top of the 18-yard box into the top left corner of the net after it deflected off the hands of Illinois goalkeeper Claire Wheatley. In the 63rd minute, Leinert headed home Maddy Williams' right-to-left cross. The sequence began when Petrina opted to play a free kick to Williams on the right flank rather than serving it towards the net. It was Leinert's fifth goal of the season and 32nd career.
The goalkeepers were busy throughout the second half, combining for nine saves over the final 45 minutes. With Purdue still up only 1-0 in the 58th minute, Yohn made a diving save to her right to snare a bending free kick by Janelle Flaws that the Big Ten's leading goal scorer was able to fire above the wall of Purdue defenders set up 10 yards in front of the set piece opportunity. Yohn also made diving saves in the 70th and 80th minutes.
Andrea Petrina, Hannah Mussallem & Drew Roff discuss #Purdue's 3-1 win vs. Illinois at the Boilermaker Soccer Complx http://t.co/cRzfXkz8W2
-- Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) September 20, 2015
Wheatley's best save of the day came in the 75th minute when she dove to her right to take away a goal for Petrina after the Canadian had effectively dribbled past an Illini defender and into open space near the top of the 18-yard box. Wheatley was also in good position to make a quick-reaction save on a redirection chance for Dagny Olson following a nice right-to-left cross by Kate Fowee in the 88th minute.
Christa Szalach and Petrina started in the midfield after Dannah Williams and Casella shifted to defensive roles and Olson came off the bench for the first time. Mussallem logged 40 minutes to lead the reserves.
The Boilermakers return to action on Friday when they play at Minnesota. Purdue has not visited the Gophers' stadium in St. Paul since October 2011. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
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