WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the second time this season, Purdue soccer senior forward Sarah Griffith has been named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday.
Griffith's accolade comes after she scored a pair of goals last week, the first which was recognized as a Top 10 Play on Sports Center, and the second an equalizer with 18.9 seconds left in regulation, to help the Boilermakers extend their win streak and remain unbeaten in Big Ten play.
This is the fourth Player of the Week award Purdue has received this season. Griffith and sophomore defender Nicole Kevdzija were both honored on August 31, and sophomore midfielder Emily Mathews was recognized last week.
Griffith's week began with a goal at Illinois on September 23. Her 55th-minute score gave Purdue a 1-0 lead and was the No. 5 play on ESPN's Top 10 Plays later in the night. The Boilermakers beat the Fighting Illini, 2-1, as Griffith had a match-high-tying seven shots and a match-best four shots on goal.
Three days later, Purdue beat Iowa 2-1 in an overtime thriller at Folk Field. Griffith netted the equalizer in the 90th minute, with just 18.9 seconds left, after the Hawkeyes took a 1-0 lead in the 87th minute. Griffith's goal forced overtime before the Boilermakers won it in the 98th minute.
A Naperville, Illinois, native, Griffith leads the Big Ten with seven goals and she is third with 15 points. She also paces the conference and is No. 15 nationally with 46 shots and is second in the league with 24 shots on goal.
The Boilermakers (8-1-2, 3-0-0 Big Ten) have won six in a row and eight of their last nine matches. Purdue is off to its best start to the regular season since 2007 and is 3-0 in Big Ten play also for the first time since 2007. Through the first two weekends of conference competition, the Old Gold and Black sit alone atop the Big Ten standings with nine points, and they are one of two teams without a loss or tie.
Up next, Griffith and the Boilermakers welcome No 17 Michigan to Folk Field on Thursday, September 30, at 7 p.m. ET. The matchup is the team's annual Hammer Down Cancer game. Admission is free for all fans to every regular-season home match in 2021.
For more on the Purdue soccer team, visit PurdueSports.com/Soccer and follow and connect with the Boilermakers at @PurdueSoccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Griffith's accolade comes after she scored a pair of goals last week, the first which was recognized as a Top 10 Play on Sports Center, and the second an equalizer with 18.9 seconds left in regulation, to help the Boilermakers extend their win streak and remain unbeaten in Big Ten play.
This is the fourth Player of the Week award Purdue has received this season. Griffith and sophomore defender Nicole Kevdzija were both honored on August 31, and sophomore midfielder Emily Mathews was recognized last week.
Griffith's week began with a goal at Illinois on September 23. Her 55th-minute score gave Purdue a 1-0 lead and was the No. 5 play on ESPN's Top 10 Plays later in the night. The Boilermakers beat the Fighting Illini, 2-1, as Griffith had a match-high-tying seven shots and a match-best four shots on goal.
For the 2nd time this season, Sarah Griffith has the No. 5 play on #SCTop10!#BoilerUp 🚂⚽️ pic.twitter.com/zAbLZ020SZ
— Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) September 24, 2021
Three days later, Purdue beat Iowa 2-1 in an overtime thriller at Folk Field. Griffith netted the equalizer in the 90th minute, with just 18.9 seconds left, after the Hawkeyes took a 1-0 lead in the 87th minute. Griffith's goal forced overtime before the Boilermakers won it in the 98th minute.
Unstoppable.
— Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) September 26, 2021
Sarah Griffith's 7th goal of the season sent the match to overtime with 18.9 seconds left!#BoilerUp 🚂⚽️ pic.twitter.com/geLyejubJ9
A Naperville, Illinois, native, Griffith leads the Big Ten with seven goals and she is third with 15 points. She also paces the conference and is No. 15 nationally with 46 shots and is second in the league with 24 shots on goal.
The Boilermakers (8-1-2, 3-0-0 Big Ten) have won six in a row and eight of their last nine matches. Purdue is off to its best start to the regular season since 2007 and is 3-0 in Big Ten play also for the first time since 2007. Through the first two weekends of conference competition, the Old Gold and Black sit alone atop the Big Ten standings with nine points, and they are one of two teams without a loss or tie.
Up next, Griffith and the Boilermakers welcome No 17 Michigan to Folk Field on Thursday, September 30, at 7 p.m. ET. The matchup is the team's annual Hammer Down Cancer game. Admission is free for all fans to every regular-season home match in 2021.
For more on the Purdue soccer team, visit PurdueSports.com/Soccer and follow and connect with the Boilermakers at @PurdueSoccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.