WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue is set to host its final pair of home regular-season games, taking on Penn State on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7:00 p.m. est, and Northwestern on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 6:00 p.m. est.
The Boilers are looking to battle back with these two home matches after falling in both road games last week. Purdue currently sits at 5-8-3 overall and 2-5-1 in conference, putting them 15th in the conference standings, but still is alive in its hopes of making the conference tournament.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Penn State is 7-5-3 on the season and 3-3-2 in conference, earning them the eighth spot in the conference standings. The Nittany Lions have earned victories over conference foes Maryland, Northwestern, and Rutgers this season, and drew 2-2 with Oregon in its latest result. Penn State was ranked as high as eighth this season in the United Soccer Coaches poll but has dropped out of the polls in the last two weeks.
Northwestern is sitting 6-3-6 in its overall record and 2-2-4 in conference, holding the 10th position in the conference standings, the cutoff point for the Big Ten tournament. The Wildcats picked up a ranked win this season over No. 4 TCU, while drawing with No. 11 Iowa, No. 23 Ohio State, and the leader of the Big Ten, Washington. Northwestern is led by the talents of Kennedy Roesch who has six goals on the season and three assists.
SERIES HISTORY
In the series history between Penn State and Purdue, the Boilers have only won one match, coming back in 2003. The series history is 1-18-3, where the Boilers and Penn State drew in their last match in 2023 while Penn State was ranked No. 4 in the country.
The Boilers lead the series against Northwestern 18-9-1, defeating the Wildcats 2-0 a year ago in Evanston. The first ever matchup between the teams was in 1999 when the Boilers came away with a 1-0 win in Evanston, Ill.
PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE
October 16: Join us for Indiana Farm night where there will be a bandana, and koozie giveaway. There will also be a live cow and a tractor!
October 19: Join us for our Hammer Down Cancer game where there will be an auction of the Jerseys supporting the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research.
For more on the Purdue soccer team, visit PurdueSports.com/Soccer and follow and connect with the Boilermakers at @PurdueSoccer on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook