WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Nationally ranked for the first time since 2009, the No. 25 Purdue soccer team hosts Minnesota on Senior Day on Sunday, October 10, at 1 p.m. ET, at Folk Field.
Admission is free for all fans to every regular-season home match in 2021. Prior to the game, the Boilermakers' nine seniors will be recognized on the field as part of Senior Day festivities.
University, local and state health guidelines will be followed on game day. Updates will be provided by Purdue Athletics, if necessary. A clear bag policy will be implemented for all events in Purdue Athletics facilities this year, and information can be found at PurdueSports.com/ClearBag.
The match will be broadcast live on B1G+ and live stats are available at Purdue.Statbroadcast.com. Updates also can be found by following @PurdueSoccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, while direct links to follow along are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
The Boilermakers are 9-2-2 on the season and 4-1-0 in the Big Ten. Purdue has won seven of its last eight and has its best record since 2007. Halfway through the conference slate, the squad is in second place in the Big Ten standings with four wins and 12 points after a bounce-back, top-25 win at No. 18 Wisconsin on October 3.
Seventeen players have earned at least a point and 15 have at least one assist, both tied for the most in the Big Ten. Ten Boilermakers have scored a goal, tied for third-most in the conference. Purdue boasts a 25-12 advantage in goal differential, including 16-6 in the second half.
The Boilermakers lead the Big Ten with 5.31 saves per game, and they are second in goals (25) and points (76) and third in assists (26) and save percentage (.852).
Individually, senior forward Sarah Griffith is No. 9 nationally with 10 goals, No. 11 with 4.50 shots per game, No. 16 with 2.33 shots on goal per game and No. 24 with 21 points. Senior goalkeeper Marisa Bova is 25th in the NCAA with 1205:49 minutes played and she leads the Big Ten with 67 saves and is third in save percentage (.848).
Additionally, Griffith and sophomore midfielder Emily Mathews are sixth in the league with two game-winning goals. Mathews is second on the team with 11 points and freshman forward Gracie Dunaway has a team-best five assists.
The Golden Gophers are 6-3-3 and 2-3-0 in Big Ten play. Minnesota is in a three-way tie for ninth place in the conference standings with six points.
NATIONALLY-RANKED BOILERMAKERS
Purdue is ranked nationally for the first time since 2009, at No. 25 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25. The Boilermakers move into the top-25 after not receiving votes in last week's poll. The Old Gold and Black also are No. 3 in the North Region ranking, up from No. 6 last week, and No. 22 in the latest NCAA RPI. The last time the Boilermakers appeared in the national poll was in 2009 as they entered the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 24.
RECORD WATCHING
In her career, Bova's 0.90 goals-against average is second-best all-time, and she is third with 16 shutouts and fourth with 23 wins and a .800 save percentage. She is fifth in school history in saves (184), starts (49) and minutes (4,635). In a single season, Bova is third with a .848 save percentage, eighth in goals-against average (0.90) and tied for ninth in wins (9).
Griffith's 20 career goals are tied for eighth-most all-time, while her seven game-winning goals is sixth in school history and her 47 points is tied for 10th. In 2021, Griffith's 10 goals is tied for fourth-most. She has scored five goals in the last four games, and she is the seventh Boilermaker all-time with a four-plus-game goal streak. Griffith is the 11th player with a five-plus match point streak, as she has recorded at least a point in every Big Ten contest.
Additionally, Griffith is a three-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honoree this year, tied for fourth-most by a single player in conference history.
LAST TIME OUT: REBOUND, TOP-25 ROAD WIN
A pair of goals by Griffith propelled Purdue to a 2-1 upset victory at No. 18 Wisconsin on October 3 in Madison. The Boilermakers took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute on Griffith's first goal, and the advantage was extended to 2-0 in the 60th minute on her second goal, a highlight-reel shot through thick rainfall. Just more than 30 seconds later, UW answered for its lone goal of the match.
Purdue was out-shot 14-11 and Wisconsin had a 10-7 advantage in shots on goal. The Boilermakers earned four corner kicks to the Badgers' two. Griffith had a match-high six shots and five shots on goal as Bova made a career-best eight saves. The Purdue defense also cleared a ball off the line to prevent the game-tying goal late in the contest.
The Boilermakers have won three in a row against the Badgers, all on the road, with two coming in Madison against a top-20 UW side.
A complete recap from the match, including box score, postgame comments from coach Drew Roff and highlights, can be found at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MINNESOTA
Purdue is 8-15-0 all-time against Minnesota and 4-7-0 in West Lafayette. UM has won the last seven, including 1-0 last season in Saint Paul.
Last year, an 83rd-minute goal by Minnesota was the difference in a 1-0 road loss on March 25, 2021. Griffith had a match-best five shots and three shots on goal, while Bova made four saves.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
Minnesota is 6-3-3 this season, 2-3-0 in the Big Ten and 2-1-1 on the road. The Golden Gophers are coming off a 4-1 home victory over Penn State last Sunday which snapped a two-game losing streak. UM went unbeaten in non-conference play, at 3-0-3. Against top-25 opponents, Minnesota is 0-1-0 with a 2-1 home loss to No. 9 Rutgers.
The Golden Gophers are second in the Big Ten and No. 20 nationally with a .583 shutout percentage, and they are third in the league in goals-against average (0.711) and fourth in save percentage (.830).
UP NEXT: FINAL REGULAR-SEASON ROADTRIP
Purdue takes to the road for the final time in the regular season next week, with contests at Ohio State and Penn State. The trip begins in Columbus on Thursday, October 14, at 7 p.m. ET.
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.
Admission is free for all fans to every regular-season home match in 2021. Prior to the game, the Boilermakers' nine seniors will be recognized on the field as part of Senior Day festivities.
University, local and state health guidelines will be followed on game day. Updates will be provided by Purdue Athletics, if necessary. A clear bag policy will be implemented for all events in Purdue Athletics facilities this year, and information can be found at PurdueSports.com/ClearBag.
The match will be broadcast live on B1G+ and live stats are available at Purdue.Statbroadcast.com. Updates also can be found by following @PurdueSoccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, while direct links to follow along are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
The Boilermakers are 9-2-2 on the season and 4-1-0 in the Big Ten. Purdue has won seven of its last eight and has its best record since 2007. Halfway through the conference slate, the squad is in second place in the Big Ten standings with four wins and 12 points after a bounce-back, top-25 win at No. 18 Wisconsin on October 3.
Seventeen players have earned at least a point and 15 have at least one assist, both tied for the most in the Big Ten. Ten Boilermakers have scored a goal, tied for third-most in the conference. Purdue boasts a 25-12 advantage in goal differential, including 16-6 in the second half.
The Boilermakers lead the Big Ten with 5.31 saves per game, and they are second in goals (25) and points (76) and third in assists (26) and save percentage (.852).
Individually, senior forward Sarah Griffith is No. 9 nationally with 10 goals, No. 11 with 4.50 shots per game, No. 16 with 2.33 shots on goal per game and No. 24 with 21 points. Senior goalkeeper Marisa Bova is 25th in the NCAA with 1205:49 minutes played and she leads the Big Ten with 67 saves and is third in save percentage (.848).
Additionally, Griffith and sophomore midfielder Emily Mathews are sixth in the league with two game-winning goals. Mathews is second on the team with 11 points and freshman forward Gracie Dunaway has a team-best five assists.
The Golden Gophers are 6-3-3 and 2-3-0 in Big Ten play. Minnesota is in a three-way tie for ninth place in the conference standings with six points.
NATIONALLY-RANKED BOILERMAKERS
Purdue is ranked nationally for the first time since 2009, at No. 25 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25. The Boilermakers move into the top-25 after not receiving votes in last week's poll. The Old Gold and Black also are No. 3 in the North Region ranking, up from No. 6 last week, and No. 22 in the latest NCAA RPI. The last time the Boilermakers appeared in the national poll was in 2009 as they entered the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 24.
RECORD WATCHING
In her career, Bova's 0.90 goals-against average is second-best all-time, and she is third with 16 shutouts and fourth with 23 wins and a .800 save percentage. She is fifth in school history in saves (184), starts (49) and minutes (4,635). In a single season, Bova is third with a .848 save percentage, eighth in goals-against average (0.90) and tied for ninth in wins (9).
Griffith's 20 career goals are tied for eighth-most all-time, while her seven game-winning goals is sixth in school history and her 47 points is tied for 10th. In 2021, Griffith's 10 goals is tied for fourth-most. She has scored five goals in the last four games, and she is the seventh Boilermaker all-time with a four-plus-game goal streak. Griffith is the 11th player with a five-plus match point streak, as she has recorded at least a point in every Big Ten contest.
Additionally, Griffith is a three-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honoree this year, tied for fourth-most by a single player in conference history.
LAST TIME OUT: REBOUND, TOP-25 ROAD WIN
A pair of goals by Griffith propelled Purdue to a 2-1 upset victory at No. 18 Wisconsin on October 3 in Madison. The Boilermakers took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute on Griffith's first goal, and the advantage was extended to 2-0 in the 60th minute on her second goal, a highlight-reel shot through thick rainfall. Just more than 30 seconds later, UW answered for its lone goal of the match.
Purdue was out-shot 14-11 and Wisconsin had a 10-7 advantage in shots on goal. The Boilermakers earned four corner kicks to the Badgers' two. Griffith had a match-high six shots and five shots on goal as Bova made a career-best eight saves. The Purdue defense also cleared a ball off the line to prevent the game-tying goal late in the contest.
The Boilermakers have won three in a row against the Badgers, all on the road, with two coming in Madison against a top-20 UW side.
A complete recap from the match, including box score, postgame comments from coach Drew Roff and highlights, can be found at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MINNESOTA
Purdue is 8-15-0 all-time against Minnesota and 4-7-0 in West Lafayette. UM has won the last seven, including 1-0 last season in Saint Paul.
Last year, an 83rd-minute goal by Minnesota was the difference in a 1-0 road loss on March 25, 2021. Griffith had a match-best five shots and three shots on goal, while Bova made four saves.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
Minnesota is 6-3-3 this season, 2-3-0 in the Big Ten and 2-1-1 on the road. The Golden Gophers are coming off a 4-1 home victory over Penn State last Sunday which snapped a two-game losing streak. UM went unbeaten in non-conference play, at 3-0-3. Against top-25 opponents, Minnesota is 0-1-0 with a 2-1 home loss to No. 9 Rutgers.
The Golden Gophers are second in the Big Ten and No. 20 nationally with a .583 shutout percentage, and they are third in the league in goals-against average (0.711) and fourth in save percentage (.830).
UP NEXT: FINAL REGULAR-SEASON ROADTRIP
Purdue takes to the road for the final time in the regular season next week, with contests at Ohio State and Penn State. The trip begins in Columbus on Thursday, October 14, at 7 p.m. ET.
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.