WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (www.purduesports.com) – An early goal from Maddy Williams and a late goal from Dagny Olson propelled Purdue women’s soccer to a 2-1 victory vs. Baylor to cap day one action at the Boilermaker Challenge Cup Friday evening.

The Boilermakers improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2009. The 2000 team also opened 3-0 and both improved to 5-0 before suffering their first defeats.

Williams scored her Big Ten-leading fifth goal of the season and 10th of the month in the third minute, becoming the first player in program history to score in each of the first three games of a season. Purdue led almost the entire game before Baylor (0-3) finally equalized in the 84th minute. But 75 seconds later, Olson scored her first goal as a Boilermaker and the 11th of her collegiate career to give her team the lead back.

Williams accounted for Purdue’s earliest goal since Makaela Nellams scored two minutes and 30 seconds after the opening kickoff last year at Maryland. After also finding the back of the net in the 2014 season finale, Williams has now scored in four consecutive regular-season games, the first Boiler to do so since Alex Hairston in September 2013.

Vanessa Korolas helped set up both goals. Her left-to-right cross found Olson in the heart of the 18-yard box and led to the game winner. Early in the game, Korolas’ throw-in from the west sideline found the feet of Hannah Leinert, who in turn connected a cross to Williams on the inside edge of the 18-yard box.

Olson’s initial attempt to shoot was stifled by a nearby defender. But Olson kept her composure, maintained possession and fired a shot into the left side of the net. Purdue won thanks to a goal in the final six minutes for the second game in a row.

Williams scored with a ground shot into the right side of the net, recording her 21st career goal.

Goalkeeper Erika Yohn recorded three of her four saves in the second half. She initially made a save on Baylor’s Julie James, but the rebound caromed off the left post and directly to Sarah King for an easy tap-in goal that tied the game.

The Boilermakers held BU without a corner kick until the 77th minute. But the Bears nearly tied the game not long after generating their first corner. Lauren Piercy hit the crossbar with a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. Another corner kick about six and half minutes later finally led to the equalizer that Baylor had been chasing since early in the match.

Purdue defender Kim Love had one of her most active games offensively, emerging as a dangerous target on set pieces. She had opportunities on a pair of Olson free kicks three minutes apart in the first half. Love also missed high with a header off a corner in the 64th minute.

Melissa Casella, Megan Kaser, Dannah Williams, Maddy Williams, Korolas and Love went the distance among the Purdue field players. Kaser started at center back in place of an injured Mikayla Lasky, who saw her consecutive games started streak snapped at 36 due to a knee ailment. Erika Arkans was the first Boiler off the bench, started the second half and logged 47 minutes to lead the reserves.

Indiana defeated Missouri 1-0 in the first game of the Boilermaker Challenge Cup Friday. Sunday, the Hoosiers will take on Baylor at 11 a.m. and Purdue will square off against Missouri at 2 p.m.

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