Game Notes / Live Video Sunday / Live Audio Thursday / Gameday Central
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Maryland (3-11-1, 1-6 B1G) at Purdue (3-10, 1-6 B1G)
Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. ET / BTN Plus on BTN2Go
Folk Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
All-Time Series: Tied 1-1
All-Time Series in West Lafayette: First Meeting
Last Meeting: Purdue 2, Maryland 1 -- OT (10/18/15 in College Park)
Purdue at No. 16 Penn State (9-2-3, 5-0-2 B1G)
Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. ET
Jeffrey Field / University Park, Pennsylvania
All-Time Series: Penn State leads 15-1-1
All-Time Series in University Park: Penn State leads 8-0
Last Meeting: No. 9 PSU 2, Purdue 1 (10/9/15 in West Lafayette)
Last Meeting in University Park: No. 8 PSU 6, Purdue 1 (9/26/13)
Purdue's Last Win vs. PSU: No. 24 Purdue 3, No. 13 PSU 1 (9/26/03 in West Lafayette)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue women's soccer continues Big Ten play with a home and away week, featuring the first-ever visit from Maryland on Thursday to kick off Homecoming Weekend on campus and a matchup with the defending national champion Sunday at No. 16 Penn State.
The Boilermakers play three of their final four regular-season games at home, beginning with Thursday's 7 p.m. ET matchup with Maryland. Purdue faculty and staff receive special $1 admission for faculty and staff appreciation night. Another free student shuttle to Folk Field will also be available, beginning its campus loop at 5:30 p.m. Shuttle stops are at the Stewart Center, Third & Jischke, and Purdue West.
The Boilermakers have never played a defending national champion before. Penn State entered the week atop the Big Ten standings once again as the only remaining unbeaten side in league play. Purdue has not visited PSU's Jeffrey Field since September 2013, playing 26 true road games at 18 different fields since its last trip to Central Pennsylvania. Oddly, the Boilermakers have played three times at Iowa since their last game at PSU.
The team that conceded the first goal has actually rallied to win in the two Purdue-Maryland games since the Terrapins joined the league in 2014. In last year's overtime win, Hannah Leinert scored the equalizer and set up Makaela Nellams' game-winning penalty kick. In the process, the Boilermakers won a Big Ten road game after conceding the first goal for the first time since September 2012 at Nebraska (also in overtime).
Katie Bittner & Drew Roff discuss last week's OT thriller @ Rutgers, preview the home & away week ahead vs UMD & PSU https://t.co/vQz6voKNf4
-- Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) October 11, 2016
Purdue scored first against Penn State last year, a highlight-reel goal on a Mikayla Lasky one-touch volley to cap a free kick sequence early in the second half. It was the Boilermakers' first lead against PSU since scoring in the opening minute of the 2010 meeting in West Lafayette. But the Nittany Lions rallied to win 2-1, their fifth straight victory at the time. Penn State conceded a goal in each of its final four regular-season games a year ago, but later won eight straight games in shutout fashion to claim the Big Ten's first-ever national title in women's soccer.
Purdue played well last week in the first of its two games against NCAA College Cup (Final Four) qualifiers from a year ago. Despite losing in the 99th minute at No. 24 Rutgers, head coach Drew Roff called it one of the team's best games in his two seasons as head coach. Jordan Ginther helped keep the Boilermakers in it with a career-high 11 saves, good for the fourth most in program history and the first double-figure total by a Purdue goalkeeper since Carianne Betts made 10 saves at Michigan in October 2010.
The Boilermakers enter the week as the only Big Ten team yet to earn any standings points at home this year. But remaining home games against Maryland, Indiana and Michigan State provides an opportunity to change that. All three opponents would not qualify for the conference tournament if it started Thursday. Unfortunately, Purdue likely also needs a win at PSU on Sunday to keep its Big Ten Tournament hopes alive.
QUICK LOOK AT MARYLAND
- The Terrapins have only been shut out in four of their 15 games, but have also conceded a Big Ten-high 38 goals. The opposition has scored at least three goals in each of UMD's last five games, all losses. Like Purdue, only a September win against Illinois has prevented an even longer losing skid. Chelsea Jackson (9 goals) and Jarena Harmon (8) have provided a formidable scoring combination for first-year head coach Ray Leone. Around the Big Ten, only Minnesota's Simone Kolander (11) and April Bockin/Josee Stiever (7) have combined for more goals among teammates. Maryland has compiled a 5-20-6 record in conference play since joining the league.
QUICK LOOK AT PENN STATE
- The Nittany Lions carry a 10-game unbeaten streak (8-0-2) into Thursday's home game against Rutgers. Penn State opened the year 1-2-1, but has now conceded fewer goals in its last 10 games (four) than it did in those first four contests (six). Frannie Crouse leads the way with nine goals, giving the junior 30 for her career. Megan Schafer (4 goals, 3 assists), Charlotte Williams (3 goals, 3 assists) and Nickolette Driesse (6 assists) are also back after being key contributors to the national championship team. Freshman Amanda Dennis has taken over as the starting goalkeeper. Penn State has won at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title in 17 of the last 18 years (all but 2013).