WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue soccer team concludes the regular season against rival Indiana on senior night at Folk Field on Saturday, April 2, with kickoff at 7 p.m. ET.
Fans can watch live on BTN+, and live stats will be available at Purdue.Statebroadcast.com. Updates also can be found by following Purdue Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, while direct links to follow along are available at PurdueSports.com/Soccer. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, fans will not be allowed.
Prior to the match, senior forward/midfielder Hannah Melchiorre and junior defender Julia Ware will be recognized as they play their final contest at Folk Field. Melchiorre and Ware will both be graduating from Purdue University later this spring.
The Boilermakers (4-5-1) and Hoosiers (6-4-0) meet for the 25th time in the series on Saturday. Purdue owns a 15-4-5 record in the in-state rivalry and has maintained possession of the Golden Boot trophy for five consecutive years.
As they play their final regular-season match of the 2020-21 season, the Boilermakers are 3-1-1 at home and 2-1-0 at Folk Field.
Purdue is fourth in the Big Ten with 12.20 shots per match and a 0.869 goals-against average. The Boilermakers are sixth in total assists (10) and assists per match (1.00).
Individually, redshirt junior forward Sarah Griffith paces the conference and is No. 15 nationally with 4.30 shots per match, and she is second with 2.10 shots on goal per match and third with five total goals. Griffith also is fourth in the league in goals per match (0.50) and sixth in goals (5), points (11) and match-winning goals (2). Freshman forward Nicole Kevdzija joins Griffith at No. 6 in the Big Ten with two match-winning goals. Junior goalkeeper Marisa Bova ranks No. 3 in the league in minutes played (931:54) and No. 5 in goals-against average (0.869).
Kevdzija is second on the team with three goals, seven points, 17 shots and nine shots on goal. Bova has played every minute in goal and has allowed nine goals with 31 saves for a .775 save percentage. She has three shutouts and also has an assist.
SERIES HISTORY VS. INDIANA
Purdue is 15-4-5 all-time against Indiana. The Boilermakers have won two in a row and are unbeaten in the last five contests, the second-longest unbeaten streak by either team in the series. In West Lafayette, Purdue is 8-2-2.
In a 2-1 victory in 2019 in Bloomington, the Boilermakers trailed 1-0 in the seventh minute, but Grace Walsh evened the match at 1-1 in the 21st minute. Melchiorre netted the eventual winner in the 59th, with an assist credited to Griffith. Both teams had seven shots, three on goal, as Bova made two saves.
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
Indiana comes to West Lafayette with a 6-4-0 record and a 2-3 mark on the road. IU has won two in a row, 2-0 at Michigan on March 28 and 2-1 at home against Michigan State on March 31.
The Hoosiers are fourth in the Big Ten in goals (12), scoring offense (1.20), shots on goal per match (5.80) and shutout percentage (.400). Indiana is fifth in save percentage (.800) and corner kicks per contest (4.70).
LAST TIME OUT: LOSS AT IOWA
Purdue suffered a 1-0 loss at Iowa on March 28. The Boilermakers had a 16-6 advantage in shots and a 6-3 edge in shots on goal, though the Hawkeyes were able to convert in the 21st minute for the match's lone goal.
Griffith led the team with seven shots, five on goal, and junior midfielder Teagan Jones and freshman midfielder Emily Mathews each had two shots. Bova made two saves. Iowa's keeper stopped all six shots she faced.
UP NEXT: BIG TEN REGIONAL WEEKEND
Postseason play begins for the Boilermakers at the Big Ten Regional Weekend on April 8. Seedings, complete matchups, locations and times will be announced following the conclusion of this weekend's matches.
For more on the Purdue soccer team, visit PurdueSports.com/Soccer and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Fans can watch live on BTN+, and live stats will be available at Purdue.Statebroadcast.com. Updates also can be found by following Purdue Soccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, while direct links to follow along are available at PurdueSports.com/Soccer. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, fans will not be allowed.
Prior to the match, senior forward/midfielder Hannah Melchiorre and junior defender Julia Ware will be recognized as they play their final contest at Folk Field. Melchiorre and Ware will both be graduating from Purdue University later this spring.
The Boilermakers (4-5-1) and Hoosiers (6-4-0) meet for the 25th time in the series on Saturday. Purdue owns a 15-4-5 record in the in-state rivalry and has maintained possession of the Golden Boot trophy for five consecutive years.
As they play their final regular-season match of the 2020-21 season, the Boilermakers are 3-1-1 at home and 2-1-0 at Folk Field.
Purdue is fourth in the Big Ten with 12.20 shots per match and a 0.869 goals-against average. The Boilermakers are sixth in total assists (10) and assists per match (1.00).
Individually, redshirt junior forward Sarah Griffith paces the conference and is No. 15 nationally with 4.30 shots per match, and she is second with 2.10 shots on goal per match and third with five total goals. Griffith also is fourth in the league in goals per match (0.50) and sixth in goals (5), points (11) and match-winning goals (2). Freshman forward Nicole Kevdzija joins Griffith at No. 6 in the Big Ten with two match-winning goals. Junior goalkeeper Marisa Bova ranks No. 3 in the league in minutes played (931:54) and No. 5 in goals-against average (0.869).
Kevdzija is second on the team with three goals, seven points, 17 shots and nine shots on goal. Bova has played every minute in goal and has allowed nine goals with 31 saves for a .775 save percentage. She has three shutouts and also has an assist.
"Thank you for always putting the team first and being the person anyone can come to with anything."
— Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) April 2, 2021
A Senior Day message to Hannah Melchiorre, from her teammates 💛🖤
Thank you, Hannah, forever a Boilermaker.#BoilerUp 🚂⚽️ pic.twitter.com/4G5MOk5bCL
SERIES HISTORY VS. INDIANA
Purdue is 15-4-5 all-time against Indiana. The Boilermakers have won two in a row and are unbeaten in the last five contests, the second-longest unbeaten streak by either team in the series. In West Lafayette, Purdue is 8-2-2.
In a 2-1 victory in 2019 in Bloomington, the Boilermakers trailed 1-0 in the seventh minute, but Grace Walsh evened the match at 1-1 in the 21st minute. Melchiorre netted the eventual winner in the 59th, with an assist credited to Griffith. Both teams had seven shots, three on goal, as Bova made two saves.
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
Indiana comes to West Lafayette with a 6-4-0 record and a 2-3 mark on the road. IU has won two in a row, 2-0 at Michigan on March 28 and 2-1 at home against Michigan State on March 31.
The Hoosiers are fourth in the Big Ten in goals (12), scoring offense (1.20), shots on goal per match (5.80) and shutout percentage (.400). Indiana is fifth in save percentage (.800) and corner kicks per contest (4.70).
"I've always looked up to you. You're such an inspiration, you've always worked so hard."
— Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) April 2, 2021
A Senior Day message to Julia Ware, from her teammates 💛🖤
Forever a Boilermaker, thank you, Julia.#BoilerUp 🚂⚽️ pic.twitter.com/WtT32LRcaa
LAST TIME OUT: LOSS AT IOWA
Purdue suffered a 1-0 loss at Iowa on March 28. The Boilermakers had a 16-6 advantage in shots and a 6-3 edge in shots on goal, though the Hawkeyes were able to convert in the 21st minute for the match's lone goal.
Griffith led the team with seven shots, five on goal, and junior midfielder Teagan Jones and freshman midfielder Emily Mathews each had two shots. Bova made two saves. Iowa's keeper stopped all six shots she faced.
UP NEXT: BIG TEN REGIONAL WEEKEND
Postseason play begins for the Boilermakers at the Big Ten Regional Weekend on April 8. Seedings, complete matchups, locations and times will be announced following the conclusion of this weekend's matches.
For more on the Purdue soccer team, visit PurdueSports.com/Soccer and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.