WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (www.purduesports.com) – Two goals from Erika Arkans along with scores from Soraya Toppin-Herbert and Alex Hairston propelled Purdue women’s soccer to a 4-1 victory versus SIU Edwardsville Sunday afternoon in the finale of a season-opening four-game homestand.

The Boilermakers (3-1) dominated possession and the run of play for much of the game and limited SIUE (1-2) to four shots and one corner kick.

Arkans scored in the 41st and 86th minutes after missing Friday night’s game with a hamstring injury. Her first goal turned out to be the game-winner after the Cougars equalized on a score by Cassidy Sherman in the 34th minute.

Mollie Kuramoto and Maddy Williams each had a pair of assists in the victory. Both players helped setup Toppin-Herbert’s second goal of the weekend, which opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Kuramoto and Williams also assisted one of Arkans’ two goals.

Hairston scored her first goal of the season and team-high 17th career in the 59th minute. On the right edge of the six-yard box, she flicked a right-to-left cross from Holly Gregory past SIUE goalkeeper Jennifer Pelley.

Arkans joined Williams as active Boilers with a multi-goal game during their careers. Williams scored twice in wins against Akron and Northern Illinois in August of last season. She recorded her first career multi-assist game and Kuramoto posted her second, and first since September 2011.

Arkans scored her first goal with a lofted shot from the left flank that found its way into the right side and top half of the goal. Kuramoto connected a pass to Gianna Milaro, who in turn successfully played the ball forward to Arkans on the move. The freshman had hit the crossbar with a similar shot nine minutes earlier.

Williams nearly scored twice but instead ended up creating quality chances that her teammates capitalized on. She hit the right post with a shot from about 20 yards out on the right flank in the 20th minute. Kuramoto had a touch on the rebound but the ball eventually found Toppin-Herbert in the heart of the 18-yard box where the senior finished off the sequence.

In the 86th minute, Williams’ shot from the left side the 18-yard box forced Pelley to make a diving save. Arkans was in position to pounce on the rebound, tapping it in for an easy put-back score. Pelley also made a diving save on a shot by Williams in the 24th minute.

Sherman scored on the Cougars’ first shot of the game, a floater from the top of the 18-yard box on the left flank that found its way over the head of goalkeeper Maddy Olsen and just underneath the crossbar for her second goal of the season. It ended Purdue’s shutout streak at 259 consecutive minutes and was the first goal scored by an opposing player against the Boilers this year.

Vanessa Korolas, Mikayla Lasky and Kuramoto went the distance among the Purdue field players. Arkans logged 60 minutes to lead the reserves. Arkans and Gregory (49 minutes off the bench) both started the second half.

The Boilermakers are back in action Thursday evening when they take on Marshall in Huntington, W.Va.

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