WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (www.purduesports.com) – Hadley Stuart’s first career game-winning goal just before the midpoint of the second half gave Purdue women’s soccer the score it was looking for on what was at times an otherwise frustrating offensive night in a 2-0 win against IPFW Friday evening at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex.

The Boilermakers (4-2-1) dominated the shot count 24-4 against an IPFW side that utilized a conservative defensive style for much of the night. The Mastodons (2-5) finally tested Purdue goalkeeper Jordan Ginther a couple times after Stuart’s goal in the 65th minute. Ginther snared a free kick shot above her head in the 66th minute and made a diving stop in the 83rd minute on the way to her first collegiate shutout.

Stuart also setup Alex Hairston’s goal in the final minute of the game for her Big Ten-leading eighth assist of the season. It marked the third time in her career that she had a goal and an assist in the same game.

Stuart led the way with seven shots on the night but she had struggled breaking through IPFW’s last line of defense throughout the first half. After she missed high on a point blank chance in the 56th minute on the first quality scoring chance in the second half, Stuart finally gave Purdue the lead with her fourth goal of the season and 11th career about nine minutes later. Holly Gregory connected the pass to Stuart, who scored with a well-placed shot inside the left post from the top of the 18-yard box. The IPFW goalkeeper had no chance to make a save.

In the final minute, Stuart’s shot from the left flank hit off the left post and deflected to Hairston in the heart of the 18-yard box. The junior scored into a wide open net for her third goal of the season and team-high 13th career.

Jordan Pawlik hit the crossbar with a 30-yard shot off a set piece from the center of the field in the 23rd minute. Meanwhile, IPFW goalkeeper Sam Pavlika finished with nine saves and kept her team in the game with a number of diving stops.

Pavlika made diving stops on shots by Hairston in the 17th minute, Taylor Niewoit in the 70th minute and Nicole Hively in the 81st minute.

Ginther’s big save came on a shot by Sydney Hoareau from the right side of the 18-yard box with Purdue still in front 1-0 in the 83rd minute. Ginther dove to her right for the save and recovered in time to scoop up the loose ball near the left post before an IPFW player could capitalize on the rebound.

Gianna Milaro and Niewoit both enjoyed impactful offensive stretches after entering the game as reserves. Milaro was the first Boiler off the bench Friday and was Purdue’s most active player in the final 10 minutes of the first half, forcing Pavlika to make two saves and missing just high with another shot. Along with forcing Pavlika to make a diving save to her left, Niewoit also missed high during a nice active stretch for the junior in the second half.

Melissa Casella, Mikayla Lasky and Kim Love went the distance among the Purdue field players. Jordan Frick logged 41 minutes to lead the reserves. The Boilermakers played without their leading goal scorer Maddy Williams, who missed the game with a sprained ankle. Gregory started at forward in Williams’ place.

Purdue returns to action Sunday when it closes out nonconference play with a road game against Mid-American Conference favorite Miami (Ohio). Kickoff in Oxford is slated for 1 p.m.

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