Sept. 26, 2008
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Goalkeeper Carolyn Edwards made seven saves -- including several from close range -- Friday night at Lakeside Field, but the Purdue Boilermakers used a goal with less than two minutes to go to top the Wildcats in their Big Ten opener, 1-0. Northwestern hosts No. 17 Illinois at Noon Sunday.
With the loss, Northwestern falls to 5-4-1 on the season and 0-1-0 in Big Ten play. Purdue improves to 7-3-1, 1-0-0 in conference.
The first portion of the game saw the ball mostly in the middle of the field with neither team able to gain advantage. NU took its first of two first-half shots on the Purdue defense in the 14th minute when Sam Greene sailed one wide.
Purdue forced a save by Edwards in the 22nd minute and a shot blocked shortly after. With close to 15 minutes left in the first half, the Boilermakers put on pressure again and forced Edwards to make a pair of stops.
The Boilermakers were forced to make a goalkeeper substitution when starter Jenny Bradfisch left with an injury. The 'Cats were able to get Carianne Betts out of her net early, but could not convert on the empty-net opportunity. Despite Purdue taking seven first-half shots and forcing Edwards to make four saves, the first frame ended scoreless.
After a slow start to the second half, the Boilermakers forced Edwards to make three saves -- with several shots coming from close range -- in the middle of the frame. After being kept at bay for most of the night, the NU forwards finally found some space late in regulation with Jenny Dunn firing a header wide and Alicia Herczeg forcing a save by Betts -- the only shot on goal for the Wildcats -- in the 87th minute.
With time winding down in regulation, Purdue got a run into Wildcat territory down the right side. Jessica Stellhorn served a long cross that was headed in by Felicia Schroeder at 88:14. Dunn let a shot go as time expired, but Purdue came out of Lakeside Field with the 1-0 win.
Dunn led the 'Cats with two shots and Greene, Nicole Duller and Herczeg also recorded shots. NU took two corner kicks to one for Purdue.
The Wildcats will look to pick up their first Big Ten win when they host No. 17 Illinois at Noon Sunday at Lakeside Field. The teams played to a scoreless tie in last season's meeting in Champaign.