WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's soccer team (6-2-1, 2-0-0 B1G) sent the No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes home with a tarnished 9-1-0 (1-1-0 B1G) record on Senior Day. The Boilermakers' 1-0 victory marked the sixth shutout of the season and second straight in Big Ten play.
Purdue is the only program in the Big Ten to allow no goals through the opening weekend of conference action.
The goal was recorded by freshman defender Sydney Sparks in the 47th minute, her second career goal. Hannah Melchiorre sent in a cross, where Sparks connected with the ball on a header for the game-winning goal.
Marisa Bova proved her agility once again after tallying three saves in the win. With the sixth shutout of the season under her belt, not only does Purdue own the most shutouts since 2008, but it also stands as the third-most in program history (through games of Sept. 22).
The win marked the third straight year Purdue has won or tied a top-25 ranked opponent.
7th Minute
Sarah Griffith maneuvered around three Hawkeyes as she entered the offensive third of the field. Griffith sent a pass behind the defenders, but the goalkeeper picked it up before a Boilermaker could get to the ball.
19th Minute
Bova knocked the ball out of danger in No. 19 Iowa's first corner kick attempt. Two more corner kick opportunities arose for the Hawkeyes during the first half, and each time Bova denied a shot.
38th Minute
The Purdue defense, led by efforts from Grace Walsh, forced an aggressive Iowa attack out-of-bounds along the baseline.
45th Minute
In the final seconds of the first half, No. 19 Iowa earned a free kick in its offensive third of the field. On the kick, senior Brady Riley comes up with the block to shut down any shot opportunities before the clock runs out.
47th Minute
Purdue took a free kick near mid-field. Leanna Rebimbas received the ball just inside the Iowa box. With her back to the goal, she took a couple touches away from the defenders and passed to Hannah Melchiorre, who was to her right. Melchiorre served the ball back into the box, where Sparks got a head on it and scored. Purdue took the 1-0 lead.
70th Minute
The Boilermakers sound defense was on display as Maya Lambert boxed out an attacking Hawkeye, buying time for Skylurr Patrick to clear the ball.
73rd Minute
Aly Mielke sent a ball up the field to senior Ena Sabanagic. Sabanagic dribbled the ball into the Iowa box and attempted to make a move around the four swarming defenders, but she went down and Iowa repossessed the ball. Fans erupted, asking for a whistle, but none came.
Up next, Purdue will travel to Ann Arbor and East Lansing. On Friday, Purdue will take on Michigan at 7 p.m. ET before batting Michigan State on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Purdue is the only program in the Big Ten to allow no goals through the opening weekend of conference action.
The goal was recorded by freshman defender Sydney Sparks in the 47th minute, her second career goal. Hannah Melchiorre sent in a cross, where Sparks connected with the ball on a header for the game-winning goal.
Marisa Bova proved her agility once again after tallying three saves in the win. With the sixth shutout of the season under her belt, not only does Purdue own the most shutouts since 2008, but it also stands as the third-most in program history (through games of Sept. 22).
The win marked the third straight year Purdue has won or tied a top-25 ranked opponent.
?? Recapping senior day.
— Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) September 22, 2019
(Spoiler: It was a good day. ??)
???? #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/FnjkB1pLGg
7th Minute
Sarah Griffith maneuvered around three Hawkeyes as she entered the offensive third of the field. Griffith sent a pass behind the defenders, but the goalkeeper picked it up before a Boilermaker could get to the ball.
19th Minute
Bova knocked the ball out of danger in No. 19 Iowa's first corner kick attempt. Two more corner kick opportunities arose for the Hawkeyes during the first half, and each time Bova denied a shot.
38th Minute
The Purdue defense, led by efforts from Grace Walsh, forced an aggressive Iowa attack out-of-bounds along the baseline.
45th Minute
In the final seconds of the first half, No. 19 Iowa earned a free kick in its offensive third of the field. On the kick, senior Brady Riley comes up with the block to shut down any shot opportunities before the clock runs out.
47th Minute
Purdue took a free kick near mid-field. Leanna Rebimbas received the ball just inside the Iowa box. With her back to the goal, she took a couple touches away from the defenders and passed to Hannah Melchiorre, who was to her right. Melchiorre served the ball back into the box, where Sparks got a head on it and scored. Purdue took the 1-0 lead.
70th Minute
The Boilermakers sound defense was on display as Maya Lambert boxed out an attacking Hawkeye, buying time for Skylurr Patrick to clear the ball.
73rd Minute
Aly Mielke sent a ball up the field to senior Ena Sabanagic. Sabanagic dribbled the ball into the Iowa box and attempted to make a move around the four swarming defenders, but she went down and Iowa repossessed the ball. Fans erupted, asking for a whistle, but none came.
A true team victory.
— Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) September 22, 2019
???? #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/xJLm2M9sOP
Up next, Purdue will travel to Ann Arbor and East Lansing. On Friday, Purdue will take on Michigan at 7 p.m. ET before batting Michigan State on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.