UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- No. 16 Penn State's top offensive player scored an impressive goal late in the first half and it proved to be the difference in the Nittany Lions' 1-0 win vs. Purdue women's soccer Sunday.
The Boilermakers (4-11, 2-7 B1G) enjoyed a 15-13 edge in the shot count, out shooting PSU (10-2-4, 6-0-3 B1G) for the first time since 2007. That year also marked the last time Purdue conceded just one goal in a game at the home pitch of the Big Ten's top perennial power. But while the Boilermakers managed to create seven shots on goal, most of them led to easy saves for goalkeeper Amanda Dennis.
The loss coupled with Indiana's win at Maryland eliminated the Boilermakers from Big Ten Tournament contention.
Frannie Crouse scored her Big Ten-leading 11th goal of the season and 32nd career in the 38th minute with a rising blast from 25 yards out into the top left corner of the net. There was little goalkeeper Jordan Ginther could do on the well-placed missile into the top 90.
The Boilermakers held Penn State without a shot on goal in the second half, but were unable to break through for an equalizer to extend the game. Purdue generated all three of its corner kick chances in the second half. The team's most notable scoring opportunity came in the 86th minute when Vanessa Korolas connected a short left-to-right cross to Erika Arkans in the heart of the 18-yard box. Arkans had an open shooting lane but fired her shot directly at Dennis for a relatively easy save.
Dennis had to leave her feet to make one of her six first-half saves, but generally the Boilermakers were unable to generate much pace on the shots they put on goal.
Ginther's best save of the day came at the right post in the 30th minute, snaring a rising blast off the foot of Nickolette Driesse. The goalkeeper then helped ignite a counter attack for the Boilermakers with a punt to midfield, leading to a shot on goal for Korolas less than 30 seconds later.
Defenders Maddy Duncan, Megan Kaser, Hannah Mussallem and Dannah Williams went the distance among the Purdue field players. Gabby LaMere was the first Boilermaker off the bench, playing the final 73 minutes of the game to lead the reserves.
Purdue returns to action Saturday when its hosts rival Indiana in the annual Golden Boot traveling trophy game. The Boilermakers regained possession of the Golden Boot last year with a 2-0 victory in Bloomington. Kickoff for the Boilermaker Blackout game is set for 7 p.m. at Folk Field.