MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Purdue women's soccer held off No. 4 West Virginia for 60 minutes, but the Mountaineers finally broke through with a pair of goals about four and half minutes apart to take the game 2-0 Thursday evening.
Morgantown native Erika Yohn made a career-high nine saves to help keep the Boilermakers (2-3) in the game. Six of her nine saves came in the second half as WVU (4-0-1) racked up twice as many shots (20) than it had over the first 45 minutes.
Heather Kaleiohi and Michaela Abam both scored their second goals of the season. Kaleiohi was in the right place at the right time in the 66th minute. The ball caromed directly to her after Yohn bobbled a right-to-left cross played by Dalanda Ouendeno as it skipped through the 18-yard box. Abam's goal in the 70th minute was much more highlight-reel caliber, coming on a missile from the right side of the 18-yard box that carried over Yohn's head but underneath the crossbar.
Yohn's nine saves were the most by a Purdue goalkeeper since Yana Lyon also made nine in the 2012 season finale vs. Penn State, which was also ranked fourth nationally in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America top 25 that week. West Virginia was Purdue's highest-ranked non-conference opponent since playing No. 3 Stanford in September 2009. The Boilermakers remained winless against ranked teams since winning at No. 6 Texas A&M in August 2009.
Purdue's defensive backline of Vanessa Korolas, Gabby LaMere, Hannah Mussallem and Dannah Williams all went the distance in the loss, teaming with Yohn for a much stronger showing than last weekend's 5-1 loss at WVU's conference-rival Baylor. But the Boilermakers had little margin for error on a night in which they struggled to maintain any extended possession.
Purdue was credited with a team save by a field player in the 69th minute, giving the squad 10 for the night on the Mountaineers' 12 shots on goal. That represents the Boilermakers' highest team total since Maddy Olsen (4) and Yohn (7) combined for seven saves in the 2014 season finale vs. Michigan, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Katie Bittner made her first collegiate start Thursday. Freshman Brady Riley was the first Boilermaker off the bench and logged 51 minutes to lead the reserves. Dagny Olson started the second half and logged 48 minutes off the bench.
Purdue was shut out for the first time this season and for only the sixth time in 23 regular-season games under second-year head coach Drew Roff. Three of those six shutouts have come at the hands of nationally ranked opponents.
The Boilermakers close out their Labor Day Weekend road trip Sunday with a 1 p.m. game at Dayton.
Great battle tonight against #4 WVU. Tm we get back on the road to prepare for a big game vs. Dayton! 💪🏼 #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/RGscC5WDqT
- Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) September 2, 2016