Purdue Soccer Set For First Exhibition Game

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue women's soccer kicks off the 2018 campaign with the first of two home exhibition contests on Wednesday evening versus Indiana State. The Boilermakers are slated to play on Folk Field at 7 p.m. ET. Admission is free for all fans.

This marks the first time Purdue will open the exhibition season on its home pitch since 2013. Coach Drew Roff, entering his fourth season, has led the program to an undefeated six exhibition games with just one goal allowed during his reign.

Last year, Purdue unleashed its finest season of the decade, notching its first 10-win benchmark for the first time since 2009. The Boilermakers scored 36 goals, good for second in the B1G and tallied 32 more goals than the previous 2016 season on its way to earning a 10-7-5 (5-4-2 B1G) record. The team netted a goal in each of its first 13 games and 17 of 19 overall, including all 10 at home. Additionally, the Boilermakers sound defense led to seven shutouts, including a pair of 300-minute shutout streaks and a program-record shutout streak at home of 470 consecutive minutes.

Purdue enters the year with a young team, including 11 freshmen. Seven players who saw action in every game during the 2017 year will be returning for the upcoming season: Kylie Hase, Maya Lambert, Hannah Melchiorre, Hannah Mussallem, Sarah Griffith, Brady Riley and Katie Stephens.

LAST TIME OUT
Purdue and Indiana State last met a year ago at home when the Boilermakers posted a 6-0 shutout on August 27, 2017. The Boilermakers recorded six goals, which are the most scored at home since tying the program record in October 2011 (eight vs. Indiana). In the last meeting, Mussallem notched two goals on three shots, while Hase and Griffith each produced their first official collegiate goal. The win marked the first time two freshman scored their first goals in the same game since August 2014 vs. Ohio.

LOOKING AHEAD
The season will be officially underway Friday, August 17 when Purdue takes on Eastern Michigan at home. Purdue is set to host 15 games in West Lafayette this year, while hitting the road for just seven.

The Boilermakers will close exhibition action Saturday at 7 p.m. ET when they take on Notre Dame, which came in at No. 14 in the 2018 preseason United Soccer Coaches Poll.