Sunday, October 3
Madison, Wis.
3:30 PM
Purdue University
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at
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Wisconsin
Photo by: Kierstin Vorst
Griffith Scores Twice as Purdue Upsets No. 18 Wisconsin
10/3/2021 8:12:00 PM | Soccer
MADISON, Wis. – A pair of goals by senior forward Sarah Griffith propelled the Purdue soccer team to a 2-1 upset victory at No. 18 Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon at the McClimon Track/Soccer Complex in Madison, Wisconsin.
Griffith's goals, her ninth and 10th of the season, proved to be the difference as the Boilermakers (9-2-2, 4-1-0 Big Ten) earned a bounce-back, top-25 win one game after their six-match win streak was snapped. Winners of seven of its last eight, Purdue is off to its best start to a season since 2007 and remains tied atop the Big Ten standings with 12 points after three weekends.
"I'm really proud of the mentality of our team today," Purdue coach Drew Roff said. "After a tough outing the other night, it was important that we refocused and came out ready to play, and that's exactly what we did. We stayed composed and dealt with the elements extremely well, especially with the driving rain and a field that was soaked. We defended really well, we kept possession and looked dangerous in transition. Most importantly, today was one of those days where we just had to compete and play with a lot of intensity, and that's exactly what we did and have to do to win Big Ten games on the road against good teams."
With the win, the Boilermakers have won three in a row against the Badgers (7-3-3, 2-2-1 Big Ten), all on the road, with two coming in Madison against a top-20 UW side.
Griffith has scored at least one goal in four consecutive games, and she has five goals in the four-game span. As she is tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 goals, Griffith is tied for fourth-most in Purdue history for goals in a season, and her 20 career goals is tied for No. 8 all-time.
It was a rain-filled afternoon that included a lightning delay at halftime and heavy rain that led to a soaked field in the second half. 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 Griffith's 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. Senior goalkeeper Marisa Bova made a career-best eight saves in 79 minutes before she left the match due to an injury. The Purdue defense also cleared a ball off the line to prevent the game-tying goal late in the contest. UW's goalkeeper made five saves.
"You have to have a team that has really good leadership, and that's what we have with our seniors," Roff added. "I had a feeling that they were going to come out and have a big, big day after our last game that wasn't quite up to our standard. We defended really well, Skylurr Patrick, Maya Lambert, Nicole Kevdzija, and Lauren Holleran were outstanding in the back. Grace Walsh and Teagan Jones won a lot of balls in the middle, and Emily Matthews and Sarah Griffith really started the pressure up high for us. Of course, Sarah's two goals were special things, and she continues to be on a roll."
The Boilermakers took a 1-0 lead at 11:53. From 25 yards out, senior forward Sydney Duarte sent a centering pass to sophomore midfielder Emily Mathews, at the top of the penalty arc. She then passed to freshman forward Gracie Dunaway, who dribbled into the 18-yard box on the far side and sent the ball towards the goal. Off the shot, it was deflected and looped down to Griffith at the top of the goal box, where the senior headed it into the right side of the net for the 1-0 advantage.
Dunaway got the assist, her team-leading fifth of the season.
The lead grew to 2-0 at 59:57, again thanks to Griffith. From near midfield, she played the ball up into the far corner of the 18-yard box, where several players fought for possession. Griffith then came in and beat two Badgers for the ball, turned and fired a left-footed shot across the box and into the near corner of the goal. It was an impressive strike to reach the double-digit goal mark.
Thirty-two seconds later, Wisconsin answered to cut its deficit in half at 60:29. Natalie Viggiano scored her fourth of the year, from Emma Jaskaniec.
Following the goal, Bova made two great saves in the 69th and 70th minutes, as the rain continued to pound down. Eight minutes later off a corner kick, senior defender Maya Lambert cleared a ball off the line as the Badgers nearly tied it again, and the Purdue defense did a nice job to clear the ball.
In the 79th minute, Bova left with an injury, and freshman Sara Kile made her collegiate debut. In 12 minutes, she did not see a shot, and the Boilermaker defenders did not allow a shot as UW had possession looking for the equalizer.
The match was delayed for 40 minutes at halftime, with lightning in the Madison area.
"Overall, a really impressive team performance," Roff said. "I love the mentality of this team, I love the character and I love the effort. They play good soccer and today was really an important result, and we had to fight through some challenges. But, we performed at a high level and competed at a level that is going to result in some more big moments like this."
Following a Thursday off, Purdue returns home on Sunday, October 10, for a 1 p.m. ET matchup against Minnesota. It is Senior Day, and the Boilermakers' senior class will be recognized prior to the contest at Folk Field. Admission is free for all fans to every regular-season home match in 2021.
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's goals, her ninth and 10th of the season, proved to be the difference as the Boilermakers (9-2-2, 4-1-0 Big Ten) earned a bounce-back, top-25 win one game after their six-match win streak was snapped. Winners of seven of its last eight, Purdue is off to its best start to a season since 2007 and remains tied atop the Big Ten standings with 12 points after three weekends.
"I'm really proud of the mentality of our team today," Purdue coach Drew Roff said. "After a tough outing the other night, it was important that we refocused and came out ready to play, and that's exactly what we did. We stayed composed and dealt with the elements extremely well, especially with the driving rain and a field that was soaked. We defended really well, we kept possession and looked dangerous in transition. Most importantly, today was one of those days where we just had to compete and play with a lot of intensity, and that's exactly what we did and have to do to win Big Ten games on the road against good teams."
With the win, the Boilermakers have won three in a row against the Badgers (7-3-3, 2-2-1 Big Ten), all on the road, with two coming in Madison against a top-20 UW side.
Griffith has scored at least one goal in four consecutive games, and she has five goals in the four-game span. As she is tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 goals, Griffith is tied for fourth-most in Purdue history for goals in a season, and her 20 career goals is tied for No. 8 all-time.
It was a rain-filled afternoon that included a lightning delay at halftime and heavy rain that led to a soaked field in the second half. 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 Griffith's 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. Senior goalkeeper Marisa Bova made a career-best eight saves in 79 minutes before she left the match due to an injury. The Purdue defense also cleared a ball off the line to prevent the game-tying goal late in the contest. UW's goalkeeper made five saves.
"You have to have a team that has really good leadership, and that's what we have with our seniors," Roff added. "I had a feeling that they were going to come out and have a big, big day after our last game that wasn't quite up to our standard. We defended really well, Skylurr Patrick, Maya Lambert, Nicole Kevdzija, and Lauren Holleran were outstanding in the back. Grace Walsh and Teagan Jones won a lot of balls in the middle, and Emily Matthews and Sarah Griffith really started the pressure up high for us. Of course, Sarah's two goals were special things, and she continues to be on a roll."
The Boilermakers took a 1-0 lead at 11:53. From 25 yards out, senior forward Sydney Duarte sent a centering pass to sophomore midfielder Emily Mathews, at the top of the penalty arc. She then passed to freshman forward Gracie Dunaway, who dribbled into the 18-yard box on the far side and sent the ball towards the goal. Off the shot, it was deflected and looped down to Griffith at the top of the goal box, where the senior headed it into the right side of the net for the 1-0 advantage.
Four straight games with a goal for Sarah Griffith!
— Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) October 3, 2021
The assist to Gracie Dunaway to give the Boilermakers an early lead.#BoilerUp 🚂⚽️ pic.twitter.com/zN0VE0hjRC
Dunaway got the assist, her team-leading fifth of the season.
The lead grew to 2-0 at 59:57, again thanks to Griffith. From near midfield, she played the ball up into the far corner of the 18-yard box, where several players fought for possession. Griffith then came in and beat two Badgers for the ball, turned and fired a left-footed shot across the box and into the near corner of the goal. It was an impressive strike to reach the double-digit goal mark.
🤯 Sarah Griffith doing Sarah Griffith things, and we're left picking our jaws up off the floor.#SCTop10#BoilerUp 🚂⚽️ pic.twitter.com/xvLhhHd8Xs
— Purdue Soccer (@PurdueSoccer) October 3, 2021
Thirty-two seconds later, Wisconsin answered to cut its deficit in half at 60:29. Natalie Viggiano scored her fourth of the year, from Emma Jaskaniec.
Following the goal, Bova made two great saves in the 69th and 70th minutes, as the rain continued to pound down. Eight minutes later off a corner kick, senior defender Maya Lambert cleared a ball off the line as the Badgers nearly tied it again, and the Purdue defense did a nice job to clear the ball.
In the 79th minute, Bova left with an injury, and freshman Sara Kile made her collegiate debut. In 12 minutes, she did not see a shot, and the Boilermaker defenders did not allow a shot as UW had possession looking for the equalizer.
The match was delayed for 40 minutes at halftime, with lightning in the Madison area.
"Overall, a really impressive team performance," Roff said. "I love the mentality of this team, I love the character and I love the effort. They play good soccer and today was really an important result, and we had to fight through some challenges. But, we performed at a high level and competed at a level that is going to result in some more big moments like this."
Following a Thursday off, Purdue returns home on Sunday, October 10, for a 1 p.m. ET matchup against Minnesota. It is Senior Day, and the Boilermakers' senior class will be recognized prior to the contest at Folk Field. Admission is free for all fans to every regular-season home match in 2021.
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.
