WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue soccer senior forward Sarah Griffith has been named an All-American by the United Soccer Coaches.
Griffith, who was honored on the second team, is the fifth All-America awardee in program history.
"I am thrilled for Sarah to be recognized as an All-American," Purdue coach Drew Roff said. That distinction puts her in elite company, and there is no doubt that's where she belongs. Her consistency was incredible, and her ability to score big goals in big games was a huge factor in leading our team to a historic season. She is a special talent and a tremendous leader, and I can't think of anyone that has worked harder or is more deserving."
After a record-breaking senior season as one of the nation's most dynamic scorers, Griffith joins an elite group of Boilermaker All-America honorees. As the fifth All-American in team history, she is the first since Maddy Williams in 2017 and just the second since 2007. Griffith is the third to be named to the second team, along with Williams and Annette Kent, Purdue's first All-American in 2003. In 2007, Parissa Eyorokon was named to the first team and Kira Bilecky was recognized on the third team.
The All-America award is the latest in a long list of conference, regional and national honors for Griffith. Earlier this week, she was named to the All-North Region First Team, and she was recognized as Purdue's second-ever Big Ten Forward of the Year, and to the All-Big Ten First Team, at the conclusion of the regular season. Griffith also was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team and earned three Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week accolades, the fourth-most by a single player in conference history. She also served as a team captain for a second season.
As a redshirt senior in 2021, Griffith was second among all NCAA Division I players with 2.67 shots on goal per game, No. 4 with 4.81 shots per game, No. 5 with six game-winning goals, No. 6 with 16 goals and No. 14 with 35 points, all the best in the Big Ten. She played in and started 21 games and had a Purdue-record 16 goals and three assists for 35 points, second-most in program history, with a team-record-tying six game-winning goals and two game-winning assists. Griffith had 101 shots and 56 shots on goal, both school records, in 1,566 minutes.
Griffith led the Big Ten with 20 points and nine goals in 10 conference games, ahead of the next-closest player by seven points and four goals. She scored at least one goal in eight of 10 Big Ten games and had at least a point in nine of 10. Griffith's 16 goals included a team-record two overtime goals, with one in the NCAA Tournament, the sixth hat trick in team history and two goals that appeared on ESPN's #SCTop10 Plays.
In her career, the Naperville, Illinois, native scored 26 goals, sixth-most in the Purdue record books, with 11 game-winning goals, tied for No. 4 all-time. She had 61 points, No. 6 in school history, and nine assists, six of them game-winners, which is tied for seventh-most in a Boilermaker career. Griffith was No. 4 with 117 shots on goal and No. 5 with 220 shots, as she played 5,182:21 minutes in 72 career games. Additionally, she tied the program record for career overtime points, with four, and is tied for No. 8 with two career multi-goal games.
Griffith helped the Boilermakers to a 15-4-3 season in 2021, their second-best record and second-most wins in program history behind only 2007. Purdue made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009, and seventh time in program history, and advanced to the second round for the fourth time and first since 2007. The squad went 8-2-0 in the Big Ten and notched a runner-up finish, both tied for their best-ever marks. Additionally, the Boilermakers appeared in the national rankings for the first time since 2009, and have been ranked for six consecutive weeks.
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, who was honored on the second team, is the fifth All-America awardee in program history.
"I am thrilled for Sarah to be recognized as an All-American," Purdue coach Drew Roff said. That distinction puts her in elite company, and there is no doubt that's where she belongs. Her consistency was incredible, and her ability to score big goals in big games was a huge factor in leading our team to a historic season. She is a special talent and a tremendous leader, and I can't think of anyone that has worked harder or is more deserving."
After a record-breaking senior season as one of the nation's most dynamic scorers, Griffith joins an elite group of Boilermaker All-America honorees. As the fifth All-American in team history, she is the first since Maddy Williams in 2017 and just the second since 2007. Griffith is the third to be named to the second team, along with Williams and Annette Kent, Purdue's first All-American in 2003. In 2007, Parissa Eyorokon was named to the first team and Kira Bilecky was recognized on the third team.
The All-America award is the latest in a long list of conference, regional and national honors for Griffith. Earlier this week, she was named to the All-North Region First Team, and she was recognized as Purdue's second-ever Big Ten Forward of the Year, and to the All-Big Ten First Team, at the conclusion of the regular season. Griffith also was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team and earned three Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week accolades, the fourth-most by a single player in conference history. She also served as a team captain for a second season.
𝓐𝓵𝓵-𝓐𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓪
— Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) December 3, 2021
Sarah Griffith has been named the 5th All-American in program history!#BoilerUp 🚂⚽️ pic.twitter.com/l33muPvZd0
As a redshirt senior in 2021, Griffith was second among all NCAA Division I players with 2.67 shots on goal per game, No. 4 with 4.81 shots per game, No. 5 with six game-winning goals, No. 6 with 16 goals and No. 14 with 35 points, all the best in the Big Ten. She played in and started 21 games and had a Purdue-record 16 goals and three assists for 35 points, second-most in program history, with a team-record-tying six game-winning goals and two game-winning assists. Griffith had 101 shots and 56 shots on goal, both school records, in 1,566 minutes.
Griffith led the Big Ten with 20 points and nine goals in 10 conference games, ahead of the next-closest player by seven points and four goals. She scored at least one goal in eight of 10 Big Ten games and had at least a point in nine of 10. Griffith's 16 goals included a team-record two overtime goals, with one in the NCAA Tournament, the sixth hat trick in team history and two goals that appeared on ESPN's #SCTop10 Plays.
In her career, the Naperville, Illinois, native scored 26 goals, sixth-most in the Purdue record books, with 11 game-winning goals, tied for No. 4 all-time. She had 61 points, No. 6 in school history, and nine assists, six of them game-winners, which is tied for seventh-most in a Boilermaker career. Griffith was No. 4 with 117 shots on goal and No. 5 with 220 shots, as she played 5,182:21 minutes in 72 career games. Additionally, she tied the program record for career overtime points, with four, and is tied for No. 8 with two career multi-goal games.
Griffith helped the Boilermakers to a 15-4-3 season in 2021, their second-best record and second-most wins in program history behind only 2007. Purdue made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009, and seventh time in program history, and advanced to the second round for the fourth time and first since 2007. The squad went 8-2-0 in the Big Ten and notched a runner-up finish, both tied for their best-ever marks. Additionally, the Boilermakers appeared in the national rankings for the first time since 2009, and have been ranked for six consecutive weeks.
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.