Purdue Cannot Overcome Early Deficit

Sept. 25, 2015

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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- No. 18 Minnesota became the first team this season to score twice against Purdue women's soccer in the first half, defeating the Boilermakers 3-1 Friday evening.

Makaela Nellams scored on Purdue's first penalty-kick opportunity of the season in the 70th minute to make it a one-goal game, but the Golden Gophers sealed the win with a goal by Sydney Squires in the 80th minute.

Reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Simone Kolander picked up where she left off after scoring the game winner in victories at Ohio State and Penn State last week by scoring her team-leading sixth goal of the year in the sixth minute for Minnesota (7-1-2, 3-0-0 Big Ten). It was the earliest goal conceded by the Boilermakers (6-4, 1-2 Big Ten) in 2015.

Kolander was initially credited with another goal in the 21st minute, but it was later changed to Maddie Gaffney's score. Gaffney also assisted on Kolander's header goal to open the scoring.

Goalkeepers Erika Yohn and Tarah Hobbs were each credited with five saves, Hobbs making four of her five in the first half. Squires hit the post in the 35th minute and the Boilermakers were credited with a team save to prevent a goal by Rachel McCloskey in the 60th minute.

Maddy Williams was taken down in the 70th minute to create the Purdue penalty kick. The Gophers' Emily Heslin was issued a yellow card for the foul inside the 18-yard box. Nellams' conversion on the penalty kick gave the senior her first goal of the season and third career. All three goals have come in Big Ten play.

With her team back in the game, Yohn made saves in the 75th and 78th minutes, but Squires headed home Minnesota's fifth and final corner kick not long after to account for the goal that provided the final margin.

Center backs Kim Love and Dannah Williams went the distance among the Purdue field players. Gianna Milaro logged 52 minutes to lead the reserves, playing the entire second half. Megan Kaser and Erika Arkans were the first Boilers off the bench on Friday. Purdue played without Dagny Olson, who was suspended by the Big Ten for one game for an act of unsportsmanlike conduct toward an opposing player last Friday vs. Northwestern that was singled out by a review of the game film after the match.

The Boilermakers return to action Sunday for a 4 p.m. ET game at Wisconsin.

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