EAST LANSING, Mich. (www.purduesports.com) – Purdue women’s soccer trailed the entire game after giving up a goal only 87 seconds after the opening kickoff and was off target with its shot attempts for much of the day in a 4-0 loss at Michigan State Friday afternoon.

The Boilermakers (8-6-1, 3-4-0 Big Ten) have dropped back-to-back 4-0 games after winning three consecutive 1-0 affairs. Purdue was shut out for the second game in a row after scoring in its first 13 games of the year.

The Spartans (8-5-2, 2-5-0 Big Ten) scored in the second, 23rd, 78th and 89th minutes to extend their unbeaten streak against the Boilers to five (4-0-1) dating back to 2009.

Purdue enjoyed a 17-14 advantage in shots and 5-2 edge in corner kicks. But the Boilers only managed to challenge MSU goalkeeper Gabrielle Gauruder with five of their 17 shots. Meanwhile, Michigan State scored on four of its seven shots on goal.

Paige Wester scored with a shot into the top right corner of the net after gaining possession of a slot pass that setup the scoring opportunity inside the 18-yard box. The second-minute goal was the quickest allowed to start a game since St. Bonaventure scored 35 seconds after the opening kickoff in a 2010 game the Boilers went on to win 4-1. That St. Bonaventure goal is the earliest allowed in program history.

Coincidentally, in Purdue’s last road game, it was Alex Hairston that scored in the opening minute of the game and the goal held up for a 1-0 win at Ohio State.

Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz converted on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute after Melissa Casella was whistled for a foul against MSU’s Allyson Krause on the inside edge of 18-yard box. Fiebernitz’s team-best sixth goal of the season doubled as the second scored against the Boilers on a penalty kick this year.

In an effort to get back in the game, Purdue played with just three players along the back row for the entire second half. Michigan State finally converted on scoring chances in the 78th and 89th minutes, with Marisa Oleksiak and Krause taking advantage of wide open shots inside the 18-yard box.

The Boilermakers nearly equalized in the 19th minute when a partially deflected shot by Maddy Willliams almost spun into the left side of the goal after taking a wild bounce as it hit inside the six-yard box on its way over the end line. Purdue was unable to capitalize on the ensuing corner kick.

Gianna Milaro was among the most active Boilers for much of the second half and had two good chances. In the 60th minute, she missed wide left on a rebound opportunity near the left post. A bad bounce led to the ball hitting Jordan Pawlik in the face after she created the sequence near the right post. About four and a half minutes later, Gauruder had to make a diving save at the left post to prevent Milaro from scoring with a shot from the left flank outside the 18-yard box.

Casella was selected to play the ball on a pair of quality set piece chances for Purdue near the top of the 18-yard box. Gauruder made a save above her head on Casella’s shot in the 27th minute and the sophomore missed high on a similar opportunity in the 59th minute.

Center backs Mikayla Lasky and Kim Love were the Boilers’ only field players to go the distance. Christa Szalach (58 minutes), Makaela Nellams (57) and Milaro (48) all started the second half and ended up logging more minutes than many of the Purdue starters.

The Boilermakers return to action Sunday when they take on No. 12 Michigan in Ann Arbor. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

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