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Boilermakers Set for B1G SemifinalBoilermakers Set for B1G Semifinal

Boilermakers Set for B1G Semifinal

Purdue women's soccer is set to take on Penn State in the B1G semifinals Friday at 11 a.m. ET

Game Notes (PDF)

FRIDAY, NOV. 8
11 a.m. ET | BTN
No. 8 Purdue vs. No. 4 Penn State
Yurcak Field | Free admission


PURDUE TOPS THE NO. 1 SEED / NO. 7 NATIONALLY-RANKED BADGERS
  • Purdue's victory was the first in 10 years over a top-10 nationally-ranked program (last: 2009, at No. 6 Texas A&M, 3-2).
  • Senior Ena Sabanagic netted the game-winner on assists from sophomores Skylurr Patrick and Ally Mussallem in the 44th minute.
  • The goal signified the fifth-latest first-half goal the Boilermakers have scored on an opponent in program history. Of the goals, it is one of two that were game-winners.
  • Purdue's shutout at Wisconsin was the fifth time in B1G tournament history the Boilermakers held an opponent scoreless.
  • The win ended the Badgers 17 game undefeated streak at home.
  • Sabangic's goal was recognized as the No. 2 play of the week by espnW and No. 4 by NCAA soccer.
  • Marisa Bova's effort in goal earned her GK Honorable Mention on Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week.
PURDUE IN THE B1G TOURNAMENT
  • The Boilermakers have earned bids in two of the last three seasons under Drew Roff (5th season).
  • The last time Purdue made the postseason, the seventh-seeded Boilermakers traveled to Evanston, Illinois, where they lost 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
  • In its 11th Big Ten tournament appearance, the Boilermakers look to add its second Big Ten Tournament Championship title (last: 2007) and currently own a record of 8-7-2 in Big Ten postseason action.
  • Entering the postseason, the last time Purdue won a Big Ten Tournament match was Nov. 6, 2008 with a 2-1 advantage against Ohio State.
  • Purdue owns a 1-3-1 record all-time in the B1G semifinals and a perfect 1-0-0 record in the championship match.
  • The matchup against Penn State will mark the first meeting between the programs in postseason history.

UNDERCLASSMEN SUCCESS
  • Purdue is projected to start 10 underclassmen against Wisconsin, a season-high.
  • Purdue averages 8.7 underclassmen starters per game (includes RS-So. Sarah Griffith).
  • A young team, Purdue's backline is composed of underclassmen with four sophomores (including goalkeeper) and one freshman.
  • This season, 14 of Purdue's 18 goals were recorded by underclassmen, with 8 goals coming from sophomores.
  • In conference play, redshirt-sophomore Sarah Griffith has placed 50% of her shots on goal, while owning a 57% efficiency on the year.

SCOUTING THE NO. 4 SEED PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (13-6-1, 8-3-0 B1G)
  • RPI Ranking: No. 40
  • Last time out: Oct 13 in West Lafayette, Purdue Lost, 2-1
  • In an 11 a.m. kickoff, PSU's Payton Linnehan scored an early goal (6th-minute). Purdue's Mia Roth tied it up in the 41st minute for her first collegiate goal.
  • Penn State then scored an early goal in the second half from Ally Schlegel for the eventual game-winner.
  • Penn State's offense is led by redshirt-freshman Schlegel who has a team-high 11 goals this season. Schlegel also checks in at No. 2 in the conference with 26 points and 1.30 points/game.
  • With 40 goals on the year, Penn State averages a strong two goals per game this season, which is second in the Big Ten.
  • The Nittany Lions are currently on a seven game win-streak.
  • Their most recent win coming in the Big Ten Tournament against the 5th seeded Iowa Hawkeyes beating them 2-0.

BOVA: IN THE NET
  • At 6-2, Marisa Bova stands as one of the tallest Purdue goalkeepers in program history.
  • Bova is the first Boilermaker keeper in four years to spend every minute in the net (since 2015).
  • The sophomore owns nine shutouts this season, the second-most in the Big Ten and the most by a sophomore keeper in program history.
  • Bova entered postseason play with the second-most shutouts among Boilermaker keepers in a season and the most since 2006.
  • Her 0.81 goals against average is fourth in program history and is the best by a Boilermaker keeper in 11 years (since 2007).
  • With 62 saves, Bova has produced the most by a keeper since 2013.
  • Minding the net every minute this season at 1771:37 minutes, Bova checks in with the 8th-most by a Purdue keeper in a single season.
  • The Hartland, Wisconsin, native ranks seventh with the fewest goals against in a single season (16).
  • Bova owns eight wins, the most for a keeper in a single season since 2017 and ties with (Erika Yohn, 2016) and (Jocelyn Cavalier, 1999).
  • With a .795 save %, Bova ranks 8th in season save %. Not only does she rank eighth in Purdue history, it is the best mark by a Purdue keeper since 2014.

THE BEST SINCE...
  • Nine Boilermakers have found the back of the net this season, the most since 2015.
  • Through its first six B1G matchups, Purdue held its opponents to just five goals, its best mark in 10 years.
  • The Boilermakers' nine shutouts are the most since 2007.
  • Hannah Melchiorre is the second Boilermaker in four years to earn at least three game-winners in a season.

PURDUE TEAM COMPARISONS: 2007 VS. THE 2019 SQUAD
  • One of the most impressive seasons in program history, the 2007 Boilermaker team (20-2-3, 8-1-1 B1G) produced the lone Big Ten Tournament title for the Boilermakers and owns the program record in 14 team categories alone.
  • The 2019 Boilermakers own more victories over top-25 ranked opponents than the 2007 squad (one). While the 2007 squad took down a No. 1 seed in Portland, the current team owns victories over No. 19 Iowa and No. 7 Wisconsin. 
  • Unlike the 2007 squad, which played two keepers throughout the year, Bova has played every minute. Additionally, Bova owns 62 saves on the year, while the 2007 squad collectively produced 200In 2019 the goalkeeper has 62 saves through 19 games, while there were 65 saves collectively through 25 games.
  • Bova also has turned around more shutouts in less games, out-producing the '07 squad's goalkeeper's: Jenny Bradfisch registered six shutouts, while Carianne Betts tallied four.

SHUTOUT CLOUT
  • This is the first time since 2007 a Boilermaker squad has posted nine or more shutouts.
  • Six of the team's nine shutouts came within the first nine games - the best mark since 2006 (7).
  • Over the Big Ten-play opening weekend, Purdue was the only program in the conference to shutout both opponents.
  • Purdue entered Week 6 as one of only 13 programs in the Power Five tallied at least six shutouts this season.