LINCOLN, Neb. – The Purdue soccer team will play its final road game of the 2023 season at No. 25 Nebraska on Thursday, October 18, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT, at Hibner Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The matchup will be the Boilermakers' sixth against a top-25 opponent this season.
The game will be broadcast live on B1G+, and live stats are available at Nebraska.Statbroadcast.com. Updates from Lincoln also can be found by following and connecting with @PurdueSoccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, while direct links to follow along are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
With two games remaining in the regular season, Purdue is 3-11-2 and 0-6-2 in Big Ten play. The Boilermakers are 0-5-1 away from home. They have played six top-25 opponents this year, another two past foes are currently ranked and three more have spent time ranked nationally this season. In total, 11 of the team's 18 opponents are or have been in the top-25 for at least one week during the 2023 campaign.
The Boilermakers have scored 17 goals with 20 assists for 54 points on 176 shots and 70 shots on target. Nine of Purdue's 17 goals have come from different players, and five of those are first career goals. The Old Gold and Black have given up 25 goals on 192 shots, 95 on goal. The defense has allowed two or fewer goals in all but three games for a 1.56 goals-against average.
Junior forward Gracie Dunaway and sophomore forward Kayla Budish each have scored a team-high-tying three goals, and another four Boilermakers have two goals. Budish has eight points, and senior midfielder Emily Mathews has seven. Dunaway has a squad-best 31 shots and freshman forward Lauren Omholt boasts a team-best 14 shots on goal. Mathews has five assists to pace the team. In goal, senior Charlotte Cyr has made 62 saves for a .721 save percentage and a 1.67 goals-against average in nearly 1,300 minutes.
In the record books, Mathews' 21 career assists are fourth-most in program history and the most since Maddy Williams had a record 26 assists from 2013-17. With an assist on Sunday, she passed Kellie Phillips, who had 20 from 2008-11. Next on the list is 2023 Purdue Athletics Hall of Famer Lauren Sesselmann's 22 from 2001-05.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Nebraska is 11-2-3 on the year with a 5-1-2 mark at home. The Huskers are 5-1-2 in Big Ten play and are in a three-way tie for second place in the league with 17 points, just one point out of first. NU has won four in a row, a streak that came after a 1-2-2 record in a five-game stretch. In their current win streak, the Huskers have scored at least three goals in all but the most recent contest, which was a 2-0 shutout at Minnesota on October 15.
The Huskers are ranked nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the second time this season at No. 25. They also are No. 16 in this week's Top Drawer Soccer rankings.
Statistically, Nebraska is No. 4 nationally with 140 points and 50 assists and fifth with 45 goals, all Big Ten-best marks. NU has 208 shots, 103 on goal. The Huskers have allowed 10 goals on 117 shots. Eleanor Dale leads the country with 21 goals and is second with 46 points. Florence Belzille ranks No. 4 in the NCAA with 11 assists. In goal, Samantha Hauk has started all 16 games and has made 61 saves for a .782 save percentage and a 1.09 goals-against average.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE HUSKERS
Purdue owns a 5-8-1 all-time record against Nebraska with a 2-5-0 mark in Lincoln. The series began in 2000 before the two teams squared off as Big Ten foes for the first time in 2011. The Boilermakers will play at Hibner Stadium for the fourth time in the last six seasons, with the most recent visit a 3-1 win in 2021.
A year ago at Folk Field, Purdue and Nebraska played to a 1-1 draw on September 29, 2022. Dunaway found the back of the net in the 73rd minute, and NU answered to level the game two minutes later. Budish led the team with three shots. A complete recap of the game is available here.
The Boilermakers' last visit to Lincoln was a memorable one thanks to a hat trick by Mathews, then a sophomore, in a 3-1 win in the team's Big Ten opener on September 19, 2021. It was the seventh hat trick in team history. Purdue took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute, but Nebraska quickly answered to even the match less than two minutes later. Mathews gave her team the lead back in the 71st minute, and a breakaway goal in the 90th minute completed the hat trick. Recap the contest here.
LAST TIME OUT: NARROW ROAD LOSS
Purdue lost a 2-1 contest at Illinois on October 15 in Champaign, Illinois. On a cool afternoon that featured periods of sunshine and light rain, the Fighting Illini took a 1-0 lead in the third minute, but the Boilermakers answered right back with the equalizing goal in the 16th minute. U of I scored again in the 53rd minute and the visitors could not find the tying goal a second time.
Purdue's goal was scored by sophomore forward Brooke Haarala, the first of her career. Mathews picked up the assist and led the team with three shots, all on goal. Cyr stopped a season-best nine shots, and her Illinois counterpart made five saves.
The Boilermakers had 12 shots, six on goal, and the Fighting Illini recorded 18 shots and 11 on target. U of I held a 7-5 advantage in corner kicks and both teams were called for eight fouls.
A complete recap from the game is available at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
UP NEXT: SEASON FINALE AT FOLK FIELD
Purdue returns home to play its final game of the season on Sunday, October 22, against Minnesota. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET at Folk Field, and admission is free for all fans to the contest.
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 matchup will be the Boilermakers' sixth against a top-25 opponent this season.
The game will be broadcast live on B1G+, and live stats are available at Nebraska.Statbroadcast.com. Updates from Lincoln also can be found by following and connecting with @PurdueSoccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, while direct links to follow along are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
With two games remaining in the regular season, Purdue is 3-11-2 and 0-6-2 in Big Ten play. The Boilermakers are 0-5-1 away from home. They have played six top-25 opponents this year, another two past foes are currently ranked and three more have spent time ranked nationally this season. In total, 11 of the team's 18 opponents are or have been in the top-25 for at least one week during the 2023 campaign.
The Boilermakers have scored 17 goals with 20 assists for 54 points on 176 shots and 70 shots on target. Nine of Purdue's 17 goals have come from different players, and five of those are first career goals. The Old Gold and Black have given up 25 goals on 192 shots, 95 on goal. The defense has allowed two or fewer goals in all but three games for a 1.56 goals-against average.
Junior forward Gracie Dunaway and sophomore forward Kayla Budish each have scored a team-high-tying three goals, and another four Boilermakers have two goals. Budish has eight points, and senior midfielder Emily Mathews has seven. Dunaway has a squad-best 31 shots and freshman forward Lauren Omholt boasts a team-best 14 shots on goal. Mathews has five assists to pace the team. In goal, senior Charlotte Cyr has made 62 saves for a .721 save percentage and a 1.67 goals-against average in nearly 1,300 minutes.
In the record books, Mathews' 21 career assists are fourth-most in program history and the most since Maddy Williams had a record 26 assists from 2013-17. With an assist on Sunday, she passed Kellie Phillips, who had 20 from 2008-11. Next on the list is 2023 Purdue Athletics Hall of Famer Lauren Sesselmann's 22 from 2001-05.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Nebraska is 11-2-3 on the year with a 5-1-2 mark at home. The Huskers are 5-1-2 in Big Ten play and are in a three-way tie for second place in the league with 17 points, just one point out of first. NU has won four in a row, a streak that came after a 1-2-2 record in a five-game stretch. In their current win streak, the Huskers have scored at least three goals in all but the most recent contest, which was a 2-0 shutout at Minnesota on October 15.
The Huskers are ranked nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the second time this season at No. 25. They also are No. 16 in this week's Top Drawer Soccer rankings.
Statistically, Nebraska is No. 4 nationally with 140 points and 50 assists and fifth with 45 goals, all Big Ten-best marks. NU has 208 shots, 103 on goal. The Huskers have allowed 10 goals on 117 shots. Eleanor Dale leads the country with 21 goals and is second with 46 points. Florence Belzille ranks No. 4 in the NCAA with 11 assists. In goal, Samantha Hauk has started all 16 games and has made 61 saves for a .782 save percentage and a 1.09 goals-against average.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE HUSKERS
Purdue owns a 5-8-1 all-time record against Nebraska with a 2-5-0 mark in Lincoln. The series began in 2000 before the two teams squared off as Big Ten foes for the first time in 2011. The Boilermakers will play at Hibner Stadium for the fourth time in the last six seasons, with the most recent visit a 3-1 win in 2021.
A year ago at Folk Field, Purdue and Nebraska played to a 1-1 draw on September 29, 2022. Dunaway found the back of the net in the 73rd minute, and NU answered to level the game two minutes later. Budish led the team with three shots. A complete recap of the game is available here.
The Boilermakers' last visit to Lincoln was a memorable one thanks to a hat trick by Mathews, then a sophomore, in a 3-1 win in the team's Big Ten opener on September 19, 2021. It was the seventh hat trick in team history. Purdue took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute, but Nebraska quickly answered to even the match less than two minutes later. Mathews gave her team the lead back in the 71st minute, and a breakaway goal in the 90th minute completed the hat trick. Recap the contest here.
LAST TIME OUT: NARROW ROAD LOSS
Purdue lost a 2-1 contest at Illinois on October 15 in Champaign, Illinois. On a cool afternoon that featured periods of sunshine and light rain, the Fighting Illini took a 1-0 lead in the third minute, but the Boilermakers answered right back with the equalizing goal in the 16th minute. U of I scored again in the 53rd minute and the visitors could not find the tying goal a second time.
Purdue's goal was scored by sophomore forward Brooke Haarala, the first of her career. Mathews picked up the assist and led the team with three shots, all on goal. Cyr stopped a season-best nine shots, and her Illinois counterpart made five saves.
The Boilermakers had 12 shots, six on goal, and the Fighting Illini recorded 18 shots and 11 on target. U of I held a 7-5 advantage in corner kicks and both teams were called for eight fouls.
A complete recap from the game is available at PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
UP NEXT: SEASON FINALE AT FOLK FIELD
Purdue returns home to play its final game of the season on Sunday, October 22, against Minnesota. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET at Folk Field, and admission is free for all fans to the contest.
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.