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Sarah Griffith Celebration
Photo by: Dave Wegiel

Boilermakers Enter Top-25 as Griffith Recognized Again

10/5/2021 6:13:00 PM | Soccer

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue soccer team is ranked nationally for the first time since 2009, as senior forward Sarah Griffith is recognized as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season.
 
The Boilermakers are No. 25 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25. Purdue, 9-2-2 on the season and 4-1-0 in Big Ten play, has won seven of its last eight and is off to its best start to a season since 2007. Halfway through the conference slate, the squad is tied atop the Big Ten standings with four wins and 12 points after a bounce-back, top-25 win at No. 18 Wisconsin on Sunday.
 
Purdue moves into the top-25 after not receiving votes in last week's poll. The Old Gold and Black also are No. 3 in the North Region ranking, up from No. 6 last week, and No. 22 in the latest NCAA RPI. The last time the Boilermakers appeared in the national poll was in 2009 as they entered the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 24.
 
One of three Big Ten teams in this week's rankings, Purdue is joined by No. 8 Rutgers and No. 16 Michigan, while Wisconsin and Penn State are receiving votes. Additionally, non-conference opponents Notre Dame is No. 24 and Gonzaga is receiving votes.
 

Meanwhile, Griffith earned her third Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor and second Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week accolade on Tuesday, after she scored all three of Purdue's goals last week.
 
Her three Big Ten offensive awards this year is tied for fourth-most by a single player in conference history, and Griffith is the second Boilermaker to achieve the feat. She is joined by Maddy Williams, who was bestowed with the honor three times in 2017. That also is the last time any Big Ten player earned three or more Offensive Player of the Week awards in a single season.
 
Griffith's latest recognition comes after she continued her hot streak with three goals last week, all against top-25 teams, as she extended her goal streak to four consecutive games and her point streak to five.
 
The Naperville, Illinois, native has 10 goals this season, which is tied for the Big Ten lead and No. 8 nationally. It also is tied for fourth-most in Purdue history, and her 20 career goals is tied for No. 8 in the program record books.
 
Griffith has scored five goals in the last four games, and she is the seventh Boilermaker all-time with a four-plus game goal streak. She is the 11th player with a five-plus match point streak, as she has recorded at least a point in every Big Ten contest.
 
While Purdue's six-match win streak was snapped with a 2-1 loss to No. 17 Michigan on September 30, Griffith scored the equalizing goal in the 23rd minute, just 30 seconds after UM took a 1-0 lead. She led the team with two shots, both on goal, in the match.
 
Three days later, Griffith led the way with a pair of goals in a 2-1 victory at No. 18 Wisconsin on October 3. The first came in the 12th minute, and the second was a highlight-reel score in the midst of heavy rain in the 60th. That proved to be the game winner, her team-high-tying second of the year. The senior had a match-best six shots and five shots on goal.
 
Along with her Big Ten-best 10 goals, Griffith paces the league and is No. 14 nationally with 4.50 shots per game and No. 19 in the NCAA with 2.33 shots on goal per game. Her 21 total points is 20th in in the country and second in the Big Ten.
 
This is the fifth Player of the Week award Purdue has received this season. Griffith and sophomore defender Nicole Kevdzija were both honored on August 31, sophomore midfielder Emily Mathews was recognized on September 21 and Griffith's second accolade came last week.
 
Up next, No. 25 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.