Two Early Goals Lift Purdue to Win vs UTM
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (www.purduesports.com) – Chinyelu Asher and Hadley Stuart scored just over six minutes apart early in the game to provide all the offense Purdue women’s soccer would need Friday evening in a 2-0 win against Tennessee-Martin in game two of a six-game homestand at the Varsity Soccer Complex.
Both Boilers registered their fifth collegiate goals. Alex Hairston setup each score with a right-to-left cross, recording her first multi-assist effort at Purdue (3-2).
Asher’s first career game-winner was scored in the 10th minute off a double assist from Marta Lynch and Hairston. The cross found Asher unmarked on the backside of the play and the sophomore buried her shot into the back of the net from the edge of the six-yard box.
Stuart made an impressive sliding flick in the 16th minute to redirect another Hairston cross played from the endline on the right flank. Stuart got a toe on the ball to push it into the top half of the net. Taylor Niewoit played the ball to Hairston to help setup the play.
Purdue goalkeeper Clara Kridler made both of her saves in the 24th minute to keep Purdue in front 2-0. She earned her second shutout of the season and the fourth solo clean sheet effort of her career. Kridler made a one-handed save while she was going down to deflect away a shot by Saphyra Coombs-James. On the ensuing corner kick, Alyssa Curtis was able to get a shot off from the left side of the 18-yard box and Kridler located the ball while being screened by players from both teams, making the save in traffic.
Purdue had some quality chances to blow the game open in the second half but was unable to capitalize. Stuart finished the night with six shots and she also created a penalty kick opportunity for the Boilers in the 75th minute. She was taken down by UT Martin (1-3) goalkeeper Mariah Klenke as the players went for the ball on the right side of the 18-yard box. Nicole Hively was selected to take the penalty kick. Klenke made a diving save to her right to deny Hively her first collegiate goal. Jessica Bernard got to the rebound but missed high on the follow up chance.
Klenke finished with seven saves, five coming in the second half, to help keep her team in the game. The ‘keeper was tested early in the second half when Stuart headed a service from the right flank, forcing Klenke to making a diving stop to her right. She also stopped Alex Hairston on a point blank chance about a minute later.
Emma Lancaster had an active stretch beginning in the 64th minute. She tallied two shots and played two corners during that time, but her best chance to score came on a left-to-right cross to the top of the six-yard box. The freshman was unable to get a foot on the ball and deflect it in the net as is it carried through the mouth of the goal.
Freshman Melissa Casella made her first start for Purdue Friday after seeing action off the bench in each of the first four games. She went the distance along with the center backs Kim Love and Jessica Warren. Outside back Jordan Frick left the field for the first time this season in the second half. Tayler Francel logged 40 minutes to lead the reserves and freshman Kate Fowee saw her first collegiate action off the bench.
The Boilermakers continue their homestand Sunday against Evansville. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
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