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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Erika Arkans' third goal of the season gave Purdue women's soccer an early and the defense took care of the rest in a 2-0 victory at Indiana on Wednesday evening that allowed the Boilermakers to regain possession of the Golden Boot rivalry trophy.
Purdue closed out its 2015 campaign with a 9-8-1 record (4-6-1 B1G), its first winning season since 2009, which was also the last year the Boilermakers were victorious in Bloomington. Purdue regained possession of the Golden Boot for the first time since relinquishing it to the Hoosiers for the first time in 2012. Seniors Kate Fowee, Kim Love and Makaela Nellams were freshmen in 2012. Wednesday, they closed their careers on a high note with the Boilermakers' first shutout win vs. their biggest rival since 2007. The only two other teams to shut out IU in Bloomington this year had to settle for scoreless draws.
Maddy Williams converted on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute after a hand ball was whistled on Indiana (3-10-6, 0-7-4 B1G) inside the 18-yard box. She also assisted on Arkans' goal in the seventh minute, Purdue's sixth score in the opening 10 minutes of a game this year. Williams recorded a goal and an assist in a game for the fourth time and finished as the team leader in goals (eight) and points (22) for the third year in a row.
Highlights from tonight's #GoldenBoot win at Indiana, #Purdue's 1st victory in Bloomington since 2009. #BoilerUp https://t.co/SfHu8p7KVQ
-- Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) October 29, 2015
Arkans' eighth career goal, four of which have been game winners, was scored from the heart of the 18-yard box after Williams connected a diagonal pass to her teammate. Arkans acted quickly in putting the shot on frame and appeared to catch IU goalkeeper Sarah Stone off guard a bit. The shot deflected off Stone's hands and found its way into the right side of the net. Arkans scored all three of her goals this season in Big Ten games in October.
Goalkeeper Erika Yohn was credited with two saves while being part of a shutout effort for the third time in her career. It was her first action since Oct. 8 at Ohio State.
Yohn got some help from center backs Dannah Williams and Love in the 63rd minute as the Boilermakers maintained their 1-0 lead. Love served as the last line of defense and cleared a loose ball inside the six-yard box after Yohn had deflected the ball away from the feet of Hannah Johnson with a sliding effort. On the ensuing corner kick, Dannah Williams held her ground in front of the net and got her foot on a shot by Melissa Borschke. This allowed Yohn to pull the ball into her body as she was sprawled out on the turf at the edge of the six-yard box.
Seniors Kate @TheFowee, @makaelanellams & @Kimlove_15 along with coach Drew Roff discuss tonight's win at IU. https://t.co/qtHv7i7nmW
-- Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) October 29, 2015
Arkans' well-placed shot bound for the top right 90 of the goal forced Stone to make a punch save over the crossbar in the 27th minute. The corner kick that followed was Purdue's final such opportunity of the game. Indiana created six second-half corner kicks, but Purdue successfully defended all of them.
Love finished her career having started all 72 games in which she played. She played every minute of the 2012 and 2015 campaigns. Vanessa Korolas and Dannah Williams also went the distance Wednesday. Williams started all 11 Big Ten games as a freshman, going the distance in the final 10 after moving to center back. Nellams also started all 18 regular-season games as a senior. Hannah Mussallem logged 46 minutes to lead the reserves and Gianna Milaro was the first Boilermaker off the bench Wednesday.
Purdue will have to bid adieu to Fowee, Love and Nellams, but is slated to return nine starters for its 2016 season.