FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 24-ranked Purdue soccer team will play No. 3-seeded Notre Dame in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship on Friday, November 19, at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT at Razorback Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The match will be broadcast live on SEC Network+, available to SECN+ and ESPN+ subscribers. Live stats are available at NCAA.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. Additional information on the NCAA Tournament, including the digital program, is available at NCAA.com.
The Boilermakers are playing in their first NCAA Tournament since 2009 and seventh in program history, and they advanced to the second round for the fourth time and first since 2007 after a 1-0, double-overtime victory at home against Loyola on Saturday night.
Purdue enters the second round at 15-4-2, its second-best record and second-most wins in team history, behind only 2007. Ranked nationally at No. 24 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, the Boilermakers have won four of their last five, with shutouts in all four victories. The squad went 8-2-0 in the Big Ten and notched a runner-up finish, both tied for their best-ever marks.
Eighteen players have earned at least a point, tied for the most in the Big Ten, and 16 have at least one assist, tied for second-most. Eleven Boilermakers have scored a goal, tied for fourth-most in the conference. Purdue boasts a 36-20 advantage in goal differential, including 24-10 in the second half and 3-0 in overtime.
The Boilermakers are second in the Big Ten and No. 24 nationally with a .844 save percentage and also second in the league with 5.14 saves per game. They are third in the conference with 40 assists and 112 points and fourth with 36 goals.
Individually, senior forward Sarah Griffith leads the nation with 2.75 shots on goal per game, and she is No. 3 with 4.85 shots per game, No. 4 with 16 goals, No. 5 with six game-winning goals and No. 13 with 34 points. Senior goalkeeper Marisa Bova is 13th in the NCAA with 1,940:10 minutes and 22nd with 103 saves, while she is second in the league with a .837 save percentage.
Additionally, sophomore midfielder Emily Mathews and freshman forward Gracie Dunaway have a team-high-tying seven assists, which is fourth in the Big Ten. Mathews also is second on the team with five goals and 17 points.
The Fighting Irish enter the matchup with a 14-5-1 record following a 4-0 home win against SIUE to begin NCAA action on Sunday. UND is seeded No. 3 in the region in the NCAA Tournament bracket and receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Friday's NCAA Tournament contest between the Boilermakers and Fighting Irish is a rematch of a September 2, 2021, meeting in South Bend, Indiana. UND prevailed, 1-0, in what proved to be Purdue's lone loss in an 11-match stretch to begin the regular season. The Old Gold and Black proceeded to win six in a row following the defeat to boast an 8-1-2 record through 11 games. The game also was the only time the Boilermakers were shut out this year.
Purdue is one of six Big Ten teams to make the tournament and one of five to reach the second round, along with Michigan, Rutgers, Penn State and Wisconsin. Additionally, non-conference opponent Saint Louis, along with Notre Dame, is in the postseason field and made the second round, while Milwaukee, who the Boilermakers faced in an exhibition contest, also earned an NCAA bid and advanced to round two.
THE BOILERMAKERS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
This is Purdue's seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2009. The Boilermakers are 4-4-3 all-time in the tournament, 2-1-1 at a neutral site and 2-2-2 as a top-25 team. The Old Gold and Black advanced to the third round in 2003 and made the first round in 2005, 2006 and 2009. This is the team's third second-round appearance, along with 2002 and 2007.
Purdue and Notre Dame have met once before in the NCAA Tournament, as UND won a 3-1 home contest in the second round in 2002, the Boilermakers' second-ever NCAA contest.
West Lafayette, Indiana, has now hosted the tournament twice, in 2007 along with last weekend. The No. 8-ranked Boilermakers opened the 2007 event with a 4-0 victory over Oakland before a scoreless draw to Indiana in the second round. IU advanced on penalty kicks. In 2009, its last NCAA appearance before this season, No. 24 Purdue suffered a 2-0 loss to Central Michigan in South Bend, Indiana, in the opening game.
NATIONALLY-RANKED BOILERMAKERS
Purdue is No. 24 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25. The Boilermakers have been ranked nationally for six consecutive weeks, and in the national polls for the first time since 2009. The Old Gold and Black also are No. 3 in the North Region ranking and No. 19 in the latest NCAA RPI. Purdue is No. 19 in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings and No. 24 in the College Soccer News Top 30 Poll.
RECORD WATCHING
In her career, Bova's 0.91 goals-against average and 21 shutouts are both second-best all-time. She is tied for third with 29 wins and a .803 save percentage and is fourth with 220 saves, 5,370:14 minutes and 57 starts
In a single season, Bova owns the school record with 103 saves and she is No. 2 with 15 wins, tied for No. 3 with seven shutouts, No. 4 with a .837 save percentage and 1,940:10 minutes, No. 6 with 21 starts and No. 10 with a 0.93 goals-against average.
In 2021, Griffith has a school-record 16 goals, while her six game-winning goals is tied for the record and her 34 points are tied for No. 2. In her career, the 11 game-winning goals are tied for fourth-most all-time, her 26 goals are sixth and her 60 points are tied for sixth. Additionally, Griffith's 97 shots and 55 shots on goal in 2021 are both team records, and her 216 career shots and 116 career shots on goal are fifth and fourth, respectively.
Griffith scored a goal in eight of 10 Big Ten games, had a point in all but one conference contest and notched a seven-game goal streak and an eight-game point streak, both school records. Meanwhile, senior midfielder Teagan Jones had a three-game assist streak, one game shy of tying the school record.
Mathews and Dunaway's seven assists are tied for No. 9 overall in a single season, and Dunaway is No. 2 in the school record books for assists by a freshman. Griffith and Mathews also scored the sixth and seventh hat tricks in program history, with Mathews' the 2nd ever on the road and third in a Big Ten game. Additionally, fifth-year defender Maya Lambert has played in 89 career game, tied for No. 2 all-time.
As a team, Purdue's 40 assists, 112 points and 108 saves are all No. 3, and its 36 goals and 20 goals allowed are both tied for fourth-most.
LAST TIME OUT: OVERTIME THRILLER IN NCAA OPENER
Purdue advanced in the NCAA Tournament with a 1-0 double overtime victory over Loyola Chicago on Saturday night at Folk Field in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In front of a lively crowd of 1,082, Griffith scored the game-winner in the 104th minute, her school-record 16th goal of the season and record-tying sixth game-winning goal in 2021.
The Boilermakers out-shot the Ramblers 22-13, as the home side took the last 10 shots in the contest, including all five in the two overtime periods. Purdue had a 14-6 advantage in shots on goal. The defense held Loyola without a shot after the 78th minute. Griffith registered a game-best six shots, all on target. Dunaway had five shots, two on goal, and senior forward Ally Mussallem had four shots, two on frame. Bova stopped all six shots she faced and Loyola's goalkeeper had 13 saves.
A complete recap from the match, including box score, highlights and postgame reaction from coach Drew Roff, can be found at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NOTRE DAME
Purdue is 1-2-0 all-time against Notre Dame, 0-1 in the NCAA Tournament and 1-1-0 as a ranked team. All three previous meetings came in South Bend, including the most recent earlier this season. The in-state foes met twice in 2002, both 3-1 contests. The No. 20-ranked Boilermakers won the first meeting on October 8, and No. 19 Notre Dame topped No. 14 Purdue in the NCAA Second Round on November 17.
On September 2, 2021, Purdue's season-opening unbeaten streak was snapped with a 1-0 loss at Notre Dame thanks to a 59th-minute goal. Purdue had six shots, four on goal, while Notre Dame had 10 shots and five shots on goal. UND earned nine corner kicks to the Boilermakers' one. Griffith registered a match-high four shots with two shots on goal and Bova made four saves. A complete recap of the match can be found at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH
Notre Dame is 14-5-1 on the year after a 4-0 victory over SIUE in the first round of the tournament. The Fighting Irish went 7-3-0 in the ACC to finish fourth overall. UND is 0-3 against ranked teams, though all three defeats came in consecutive games to top-seven foes. That string snapped an eight-game win streak, and Notre Dame followed the losses with a win to conclude the regular season, an ACC Tournament loss and last Sunday's NCAA victory. Friday is the team's first neutral-site contest of the year.
The Fighting Irish are No. 20 nationally with 49 goals and No. 25 with 132 points. Sammi Fisher is No. 16 in the country with 13 goals.
UP NEXT: NCAA TOURNAMENT THIRD ROUND
The winner between Purdue and Notre Dame will advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament to face the winner between No. 7 ranked and second-seeded Arkansas and Virginia Tech. The matchup in Fayetteville will be on Sunday, November 21, at 5:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CT.
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.
The match will be broadcast live on SEC Network+, available to SECN+ and ESPN+ subscribers. Live stats are available at NCAA.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. Additional information on the NCAA Tournament, including the digital program, is available at NCAA.com.
The Boilermakers are playing in their first NCAA Tournament since 2009 and seventh in program history, and they advanced to the second round for the fourth time and first since 2007 after a 1-0, double-overtime victory at home against Loyola on Saturday night.
Purdue enters the second round at 15-4-2, its second-best record and second-most wins in team history, behind only 2007. Ranked nationally at No. 24 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, the Boilermakers have won four of their last five, with shutouts in all four victories. The squad went 8-2-0 in the Big Ten and notched a runner-up finish, both tied for their best-ever marks.
Eighteen players have earned at least a point, tied for the most in the Big Ten, and 16 have at least one assist, tied for second-most. Eleven Boilermakers have scored a goal, tied for fourth-most in the conference. Purdue boasts a 36-20 advantage in goal differential, including 24-10 in the second half and 3-0 in overtime.
The Boilermakers are second in the Big Ten and No. 24 nationally with a .844 save percentage and also second in the league with 5.14 saves per game. They are third in the conference with 40 assists and 112 points and fourth with 36 goals.
Individually, senior forward Sarah Griffith leads the nation with 2.75 shots on goal per game, and she is No. 3 with 4.85 shots per game, No. 4 with 16 goals, No. 5 with six game-winning goals and No. 13 with 34 points. Senior goalkeeper Marisa Bova is 13th in the NCAA with 1,940:10 minutes and 22nd with 103 saves, while she is second in the league with a .837 save percentage.
Additionally, sophomore midfielder Emily Mathews and freshman forward Gracie Dunaway have a team-high-tying seven assists, which is fourth in the Big Ten. Mathews also is second on the team with five goals and 17 points.
The Fighting Irish enter the matchup with a 14-5-1 record following a 4-0 home win against SIUE to begin NCAA action on Sunday. UND is seeded No. 3 in the region in the NCAA Tournament bracket and receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Friday's NCAA Tournament contest between the Boilermakers and Fighting Irish is a rematch of a September 2, 2021, meeting in South Bend, Indiana. UND prevailed, 1-0, in what proved to be Purdue's lone loss in an 11-match stretch to begin the regular season. The Old Gold and Black proceeded to win six in a row following the defeat to boast an 8-1-2 record through 11 games. The game also was the only time the Boilermakers were shut out this year.
Purdue is one of six Big Ten teams to make the tournament and one of five to reach the second round, along with Michigan, Rutgers, Penn State and Wisconsin. Additionally, non-conference opponent Saint Louis, along with Notre Dame, is in the postseason field and made the second round, while Milwaukee, who the Boilermakers faced in an exhibition contest, also earned an NCAA bid and advanced to round two.
THE BOILERMAKERS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
This is Purdue's seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2009. The Boilermakers are 4-4-3 all-time in the tournament, 2-1-1 at a neutral site and 2-2-2 as a top-25 team. The Old Gold and Black advanced to the third round in 2003 and made the first round in 2005, 2006 and 2009. This is the team's third second-round appearance, along with 2002 and 2007.
Purdue and Notre Dame have met once before in the NCAA Tournament, as UND won a 3-1 home contest in the second round in 2002, the Boilermakers' second-ever NCAA contest.
West Lafayette, Indiana, has now hosted the tournament twice, in 2007 along with last weekend. The No. 8-ranked Boilermakers opened the 2007 event with a 4-0 victory over Oakland before a scoreless draw to Indiana in the second round. IU advanced on penalty kicks. In 2009, its last NCAA appearance before this season, No. 24 Purdue suffered a 2-0 loss to Central Michigan in South Bend, Indiana, in the opening game.
NATIONALLY-RANKED BOILERMAKERS
Purdue is No. 24 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25. The Boilermakers have been ranked nationally for six consecutive weeks, and in the national polls for the first time since 2009. The Old Gold and Black also are No. 3 in the North Region ranking and No. 19 in the latest NCAA RPI. Purdue is No. 19 in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings and No. 24 in the College Soccer News Top 30 Poll.
RECORD WATCHING
In her career, Bova's 0.91 goals-against average and 21 shutouts are both second-best all-time. She is tied for third with 29 wins and a .803 save percentage and is fourth with 220 saves, 5,370:14 minutes and 57 starts
In a single season, Bova owns the school record with 103 saves and she is No. 2 with 15 wins, tied for No. 3 with seven shutouts, No. 4 with a .837 save percentage and 1,940:10 minutes, No. 6 with 21 starts and No. 10 with a 0.93 goals-against average.
In 2021, Griffith has a school-record 16 goals, while her six game-winning goals is tied for the record and her 34 points are tied for No. 2. In her career, the 11 game-winning goals are tied for fourth-most all-time, her 26 goals are sixth and her 60 points are tied for sixth. Additionally, Griffith's 97 shots and 55 shots on goal in 2021 are both team records, and her 216 career shots and 116 career shots on goal are fifth and fourth, respectively.
Griffith scored a goal in eight of 10 Big Ten games, had a point in all but one conference contest and notched a seven-game goal streak and an eight-game point streak, both school records. Meanwhile, senior midfielder Teagan Jones had a three-game assist streak, one game shy of tying the school record.
Mathews and Dunaway's seven assists are tied for No. 9 overall in a single season, and Dunaway is No. 2 in the school record books for assists by a freshman. Griffith and Mathews also scored the sixth and seventh hat tricks in program history, with Mathews' the 2nd ever on the road and third in a Big Ten game. Additionally, fifth-year defender Maya Lambert has played in 89 career game, tied for No. 2 all-time.
As a team, Purdue's 40 assists, 112 points and 108 saves are all No. 3, and its 36 goals and 20 goals allowed are both tied for fourth-most.
LAST TIME OUT: OVERTIME THRILLER IN NCAA OPENER
Purdue advanced in the NCAA Tournament with a 1-0 double overtime victory over Loyola Chicago on Saturday night at Folk Field in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In front of a lively crowd of 1,082, Griffith scored the game-winner in the 104th minute, her school-record 16th goal of the season and record-tying sixth game-winning goal in 2021.
The Boilermakers out-shot the Ramblers 22-13, as the home side took the last 10 shots in the contest, including all five in the two overtime periods. Purdue had a 14-6 advantage in shots on goal. The defense held Loyola without a shot after the 78th minute. Griffith registered a game-best six shots, all on target. Dunaway had five shots, two on goal, and senior forward Ally Mussallem had four shots, two on frame. Bova stopped all six shots she faced and Loyola's goalkeeper had 13 saves.
A complete recap from the match, including box score, highlights and postgame reaction from coach Drew Roff, can be found at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NOTRE DAME
Purdue is 1-2-0 all-time against Notre Dame, 0-1 in the NCAA Tournament and 1-1-0 as a ranked team. All three previous meetings came in South Bend, including the most recent earlier this season. The in-state foes met twice in 2002, both 3-1 contests. The No. 20-ranked Boilermakers won the first meeting on October 8, and No. 19 Notre Dame topped No. 14 Purdue in the NCAA Second Round on November 17.
On September 2, 2021, Purdue's season-opening unbeaten streak was snapped with a 1-0 loss at Notre Dame thanks to a 59th-minute goal. Purdue had six shots, four on goal, while Notre Dame had 10 shots and five shots on goal. UND earned nine corner kicks to the Boilermakers' one. Griffith registered a match-high four shots with two shots on goal and Bova made four saves. A complete recap of the match can be found at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH
Notre Dame is 14-5-1 on the year after a 4-0 victory over SIUE in the first round of the tournament. The Fighting Irish went 7-3-0 in the ACC to finish fourth overall. UND is 0-3 against ranked teams, though all three defeats came in consecutive games to top-seven foes. That string snapped an eight-game win streak, and Notre Dame followed the losses with a win to conclude the regular season, an ACC Tournament loss and last Sunday's NCAA victory. Friday is the team's first neutral-site contest of the year.
The Fighting Irish are No. 20 nationally with 49 goals and No. 25 with 132 points. Sammi Fisher is No. 16 in the country with 13 goals.
UP NEXT: NCAA TOURNAMENT THIRD ROUND
The winner between Purdue and Notre Dame will advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament to face the winner between No. 7 ranked and second-seeded Arkansas and Virginia Tech. The matchup in Fayetteville will be on Sunday, November 21, at 5:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CT.
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.