WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (www.purduesports.com) – Freshmen Erika Arkans and Nicole Robertson each scored their first collegiate goals propelling Purdue women’s soccer to its first victory of the new season, a 2-0 result against Ohio Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Boilermaker Challenge Cup.

Robertson setup Arkans’ goal in the sixth minute that gave the Boilermakers an early lead. In the 66th minute, Robertson was in position in front of the net to finish off Maddy Williams’ left-to-right cross. Although freshmen Andrea Petrina and Maddy Woolford both scored in last weekend’s exhibition win at Illinois State, Sunday’s action marked the first time that two different Boilers scored their first career goals in a regular-season game since a September 2011 draw with Cal State Northridge.

Miami (Ohio) defeated Butler in the first game Sunday, posting its second 1-0 win of the weekend to claim the team title at the Boilermaker Challenge Cup. Purdue and Butler both finished 1-1, but the Boilers’ plus-1 goal differential was the tiebreaker for runner-up honors after the teams did not play each other.

Goalkeeper Jordan Ginther made three saves en route to posting her second career solo shutout. The diving save to her right that she made in the 36th minute to prevent a goal by Ohio’s Carly Manso was arguably the top save by any of the four goalkeepers on the weekend. Friday’s own goal was the only score Ginther allowed on the weekend. She was joined on the Boilermaker Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team by defender Mikayla Lasky, who went the distance in both games, and Robertson.

Ohio goalkeeper Nicole Amari finished with 10 saves, five in each half, to help keep her team in the game. Williams and Robertson also hit the right and left posts, respectively, with shots in the first 19 minutes.

Arkans scored Purdue’s quickest goal since Alex Hairston found the back of the net in the opening minute of last year’s win at Ohio State. She headed the ball in after a near post run from her position on the weak side of the field. Robertson’s extra effort kept the play alive along the endline and her right-to-left cross connected with her roommate for the Boilers’ first goal of the season. Arkans is the first freshman to account for Purdue’s first goal of a season since Hairston in 2011.

Robertson scored point blank in the second half after Williams made a strong individual effort to turn the corner on the defender and move into position to play a left-to-right cross along the endline.

Mollie Kuramoto, Gianna Milaro, Hariston, Petrina and Williams also forced Amari to make saves Sunday.

Manso accounted for six of Ohio’s nine shots. Ginther made a sliding save on a Manso opportunity in the 50th minute as the attacking player, goalkeeper and ball all converged simultaneously on the right side of the 18-yard box.

Kim Love and Kuramoto also went the distance along with Lasky. Megan Kaser logged 51 minutes to lead the reserves.

Purdue returns to action Friday when it hosts Ball State at 7 p.m.

Boilermaker Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team
Danielle Wiseman, Miami – Defensive MVP
Kesley Dinges, Miami – Offensive MVP
Jess Bronke, Miami
Marble, Miami
Zanotti, Miami
Jordan Ginther, Purdue
Mikayla Lasky, Purdue
Nicole Robertson, Purdue
Kelly Mahoney, Butler
Serina Kashimoto, Butler
Allie Curry, Ohio

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Recruiting Roundup: November 4-10

ECNL Girls AZ: U19 Players to Watch

Commitments: Top Talent Stays in Texas