Purdue Wins 11th Straight vs. Northwestern
EVANSTON, Ill. (www.purduesports.com) – Erika Arkans scored following a scramble inside the 18-yard box in the 104th minute, lifting Purdue women’s soccer to its 11th consecutive victory against Northwestern with a 2-1 overtime result Friday evening.
The Boilermakers (6-2-1, 2-1 Big Ten) posted their 13th all-time overtime win and first since September of last season at Miami (Ohio). It was Purdue’s first in Big Ten play since September 2012 at Nebraska. Arkans joined Alex Hairston and Taylor Niewoit as active Boilers with an overtime marker on their résumés.
Purdue extended its longest win streak in program history against any opponent and improved to 6-2 all-time in Evanston. Arkans is the first freshman in program history to score an overtime goal, lifting the Boilers to their second OT win in Evanston. The current 11-game win streak vs. NU (4-3-2, 0-2-1 Big Ten) began with a double-overtime victory along the lakefront in October 2005.
Arkans scored her fourth goal of the season, and team-leading third game-winner, from the right side of the 18-yard box with a shot into the left side of the net. It came on the tail end of scramble inside the box, with Maddy Williams helping to create some space for Arkans by sealing off a defender.
Mollie Kuramoto opened the scoring with a shot into the top right 90 of the net from the heart of the 18-yard box in the 24th minute. The sequence began when Williams was taken down on a run up the right flank. Williams floated in the free kick from the right flank to Arkans for a touch and the ball eventually found its way to Kuramoto, scoring her first goal of the season and sixth career. It was her first goal since the 2013 win against Dartmouth and first in Big Ten play since October 2011 at Minnesota.
Sami Schrakamp equalized for Northwestern in the 29th minute, scoring with a well-placed shot into the top left 90 of the net from the outside edge of the top of the 18-yard box. It was her second goal of the year and the Wildcats’ first goal against Purdue since 2011.
Winds from the south and the artificial field turf surface were factors the entire night. The Boilermakers had the wind at their backs in the first half and second overtime period. Northwestern still managed to accumulate a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks in the first half. Purdue did not have its first corner kick opportunity of the night until the 69th minute.
Soraya Toppin-Herbert hit the outside edge of the right post with a one-touch shot from the right edge of the six-yard box in the 53rd minute.
The Boilermakers had the first scoring chances of the game in the sixth minute when Arkans hit the right side of the net with a shot from the right side of the 18-yard box. Williams stole the ensuing goal kick but missed wide left from the right flank on her attempt to capitalize quickly on the opportunity.
Kuramoto missed just high over the top of the cross from 20 yards out in the center of the field after Holly Gregory connected a short right-to-left pass to her teammate.
Vanessa Korolas, Mikayla Lasky and Kim Love went the distance among the Purdue field players. Arkans (100), Kuramoto (97) and Gregory (90) also logged 90-plus minutes. Nicole Robertson played 70 minutes to lead the reserves.
The Boilermakers return to action Sunday for a 2 p.m. ET kickoff at Illinois.
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