Milwaukee, Xavier Slated for Exhibition Play

2018 Purdue Statistics
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's soccer program is set to begin its 2019 campaign with a pair of home exhibition matches versus Milwaukee (Aug. 13) and Xavier (Aug. 17) on Folk Field. Both games are slated for a 5 p.m. ET start, with free admission.

The Boilermakers return all but one starter after graduating two seniors in the spring. Joining the team are freshmen Hannah Lapeire, Leanna Rebimbas, Sydney Sparks, Emma Tompkins, Ashley Witucki and Chole Woodbeck. Entering his fifth year at the helm of Purdue soccer is head coach Drew Roff, who a year ago, tallied his 150th victory with the 1-0 win at Georgia (Aug. 30, 2018).
 
2018 PURDUE RECAP

• The Boilermakers averaged 5.8 freshmen starters in 2018, all of which are returning.
• The now-sophomore class accumulated 9,094 minutes on the field and six goals last season.
• Folk Field highlights included the victory over No. 24 Louisville (9/6/18) and the double-overtime 1-0 win against Indiana, which was decided on by a penalty kick (9/29/18).
• Ten of 11 Big Ten games were decided by one goal or less, tying the 2004 season as the second-smallest single season scoring margin.
• Kylie Hase returns as Purdue's top scorer, having netted eight goals in 2018. Six goals came in back-to-back games, setting Purdue's longest consecutive game scoring streak.
• Sarah Clark rose to No. 1 in Purdue history with three penalty kicks made in 2018. Clark also returns as the team leader in assists, serving up six last year.
• Clark, Hase and Patrick return after starting every game last season, while Hannah Melchiorre and Ena Sabanagic join them, having appeared in all 18 games.
• Purdue went unbeaten in three of five games versus ranked opponents a year ago.
• A total of five Boilermakers scored game-winners, two coming from freshmen.

 
VS. MILWAUKEE

• Tuesday's game will be the first meeting between the two programs since August 11, 2015 when they played an exhibition game at Milwaukee. Purdue won 4-0.
• The two teams have never met during regular-season play.
• The game will serve as the first preseason matchup for both teams.
• The Panthers won the Horizon League regular season and championship title last season and are coming off an NCAA first round appearance versus Santa Clara (L, 1-4).
• Milwaukee notched a 16-2-1 (.868) 2018 record and went undefeated on its home turf.
• The Panthers suffered just one loss during the regular season at Marquette, 1-0.
• Current sophomore Jelena Sever netted the Panthers' lone goal in the NCAA tournament and was the team's 2018 leading goal scorer (six goals).
• Returning forward Haley Johnson led the squad in 2018 last season with 20 points (6 G, 8 A).
• Last season, Milwaukee outscored opponents 39-14 and outshot them 316-170.
• A week ago, Milwaukee hired former goalkeeper (2015-17) Mallory Lieberman as assistant coach.
• The 2019 season will be the fifth for head coach Troy Fabiano (56-10-11).

 
VS. XAVIER

• The Boilermakers own a 2-1 series record over Xavier in regular season play.
• The last time the two teams met was August 23, 2015.
• All three meetings took place in West Lafayette.
• Xavier plays its lone preseason game at Folk Field.
• In 2018, the Musketeers went 10-8-3 and played four top-17 ranked opponents.
• Redshirt senior forward Samantha Dewey let the team a season ago with nine goals, seven assists and 25 points.
• Xavier outscored opponents 31-22 in 2018.
• Keeper Toni Bizzarro returns for her senior season after posting a 0.95 GAA over 1,807 minutes.

 
 Games will be availble to follow via StatBroadcast or by following @PurdueSoccer on Twitter.