WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (www.purduesports.com) – Hannah Leinert scored her sixth career goal against Evansville only two and half minutes after the opening kickoff, and the early score held up in Purdue women’s soccer’s 1-0 victory Friday evening at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex.

Purdue closed its season-opening homestand with a 4-1 record and five victories overall including the Aug. 14 exhibition win vs. Miami (Ohio) that marked the beginning of the extended home stretch. The Boilermakers remained off to their best start since the 2009 team opened 5-0.

Leinert’s second goal as a Boilermaker and 29th as a collegiate player was scored in the third minute off a double assist from Vanessa Korolas and Dagny Olson. In her two seasons at Illinois State, Leinert scored five times in four games against Evansville (1-4). Last Friday it was Maddy Williams that gave the Boilers an early lead with a goal in the third minute vs. Baylor. Purdue has led at halftime in each of its first five games.

Goalkeepers Erika Yohn and Jordan Ginther each played a half in the team’s second shutout victory of the year. Yohn made one save as the starter and Ginther recorded two saves in the second half. Center backs Kim Love and Megan Kaser went the distance in front of their ‘keepers.

Purdue has still not conceded a goal in four all-time meetings with Evansville. The Boilermakers also did not surrender a corner kick for the second time this season.

Korolas’ left-to-right cross into the 18-yard box started the sequence that led to Leinert’s goal. Olson got a foot on the cross, flicking it slightly forward and creating extra space for Leinert to gain possession in the heart of the 18-yard box. Leinert scored with a shot into the left side of the net. Korolas was credited with her team-high third assist.

The Boilermakers had their fair share of other quality chances, but led by goalkeeper Simone Busby’s six saves, Evansville kept it a one-goal game throughout.

The opening minutes of the second half featured a pair of dangerous scrambles in front of the UE net for Purdue. In the 48th minute, Leinert missed just wide of the left post in her bid for a multi-goal game after a free kick pinballed through the 18-yard box. About two and a half minutes later, the Purple Aces’ Abby Springer made a team save in front of the net on a shot by Williams. The rebound caromed to Olson but Busby recovered in time to make the save. Another rebound opportunity followed, but Melissa Casella missed high on the third chance of the sequence.

In the 77th minute, Williams and Gianna Milaro teamed up for some nifty passing along the left flank, building up to a left-to-right cross into the heart of the 18-yard box that found the head of an airborne Nicole Robertson. The header hit the top of the crossbar and caromed out of bounds.

Gabby LaMere logged 53 minutes to lead the reserves. Milaro (45 minutes) also played half the game off the bench. She and Hannah Mussallem were the first Boilers to enter the game as reserves. Christa Szalach and Mussallem both started the second half along with Ginther.

The Boilermakers return to action Friday when they take on Montana on the opening day of the Montana Cup in Missoula. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.

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