WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (www.purduesports.com) – Purdue women’s soccer surrendered four goals on only eight shots, falling to Xavier, 4-3, despite dominating the shot count and possession for much of the afternoon Sunday at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex.

Xavier (2-0) won the season-opening four-team Boilermaker Challenge Cup. There were 12 goals scored in the two games played at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex Sunday afternoon after Akron defeated North Dakota, 4-1, in the 11 a.m. match. Akron’s Megan Waskowski posted the eighth hat trick at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex.

The Musketeers jumped out to an early lead with two goals in the first five minutes and 10 seconds. Purdue (1-1) pulled within a goal on three occasions but could not record an equalizer.

The most demoralizing moment of the match came in the 57th minute when Ashton Greene’s shot found its way underneath goalkeeper Caitlyn McCollough, trickling over the goal line to make it a 4-2 game. McCullough made the initial save but could not maintain control of the ball as she went down to her knees. Mollie Kuramoto had scored 33 seconds earlier to pull the Boilers within a goal.

Alex Hairston and Holly Gregory each had a goal and an assist for Purdue. Hairston’s 11th collegiate goal opened the scoring for the Boilers in the 23rd minute. Gregory moved from center back to an attacking role while Purdue was chasing the score in the second half. She finished off a wild scramble in the 80th minute that featured multiple chances for the Boilers before Gregory finally put it away.

Tori Doss scored for Xavier in the sixth and 42nd minutes en route to finishing the weekend with three goals. She was named the Offensive MVP of the tournament. Her second goal gave the Musketeers a 3-1 lead going into the halftime break. It was scored on a one-touch deflection after Lauren Heap served in a free kick from the east sideline.

The Boilermakers dominated the shot count 34-8, but Xavier did a decent job of limiting the number of quality scoring chances despite the one-sided totals. Purdue also enjoyed a 12-1 advantage in corner kicks. Xavier goalkeeper Katie Markesbery accounted for 10 saves.

From the heart of the 18-yard box, Kuramoto headed in a deflected free kick off the foot of Jordan Pawlik in the 56th minute. Kuramoto scored in both games of the season-opening weekend, equaling her goal total of her underclassman seasons. But moments later Greene intercepted a pass from a Purdue defender and was in position to shoot from the top of the 18-yard box.

Hairston scored point blank into the right side of the net after a left-to-right cross from Hadley Stuart.

Catherine Allon’s goal in the third minute that opened the scoring was very similar to Hairston’s. A right-to-left cross set up the scoring opportunity at the right post. Just two minutes and 36 seconds later, Doss beat starting goalkeeper Clara Kridler with a long shot from outside the 18-yard box on the left flank that found its way inside the right post.

Kuramoto had the best chance to tie the game in the final minutes. She headed a left-to-right cross into the side netting on the right side of the goal with about one minute remaining.

Melissa Casella, Jordan Frick, Gregory, Pawlik and Stuart went the distance for the Boilermakers. Makaela Nellams logged 58 minutes to lead the reserves, playing the entire second half.

Purdue returns to action Friday when it hosts Northern Illinois at 7 p.m.

Boilermaker Challenge Cup

Xavier -- 2-0

Purdue 1-1 (+4 goal differential)
Akron 1-1 (-2 goal differential)

North Dakota 0-2

 

All-Tournament Team

Tori Doss, Xavier -- Offensive MVP

Courtney Kobashigawa, Xavier -- Defensive MVP

Lauren Heap, Xavier

Katie Schweer, Xavier

Mariah Whitaker, Xavier

Hadley Stuart, Purdue

Jordan Pawlik, Purdue

Maddy Williams, Purdue

Megan Waskowski, Akron

Katie George, Akron

Noel Scherer, North Dakota