PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER WINS SEASON OPENER VS. MARSHALL 2-1 /// AUG. 19, 2016

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (www.purduesports.com) – Purdue women’s soccer scored a pair of very timely goals during a resurgent second half, lifting the Boilermakers to a 2-1 season-opening win vs. Marshall on Friday evening at Folk Field.

Andrea Petrina scored in the opening minute of the second half and assisted on Mikayla Lasky’s game-wininng goal, which was headed home off a free kick only 55 seconds after Marshall had equalized.

Goalkeeper Jordan Ginther made the game’s biggest defensive play in the 41st minute when she stopped a penalty kick opportunity for Julianna Smith. The Thundering Herd enjoyed an advantage in possession and seized the game’s momentum over the final 15 minutes of the first half. But Ginther’s save kept the contest scoreless going into the halftime break.

Petrina scored with a shot from the top of the six-yard box inside the right post after Hannah Leinert’s initial shot of the sequence was blocked by a Marshall defender and caromed Petrina’s direction. It was Petrina’s free kick from the left flank near the Purdue bench that found the head of Lasky in line with the right post in the 60th minute.

Including Purdue’s two preseason exhibition games, Petrina has now either scored or assisted on six of the team’s seven goals this month. It was her fourth regular-season goal as a Boilermaker. Lasky, meanwhile, recorded her third goal.

Purdue had the edge in possession throughout the second half, compiling an 11-3 edge in the shot count while not conceding a corner kick opportunity. But Marshall still managed to equalize on Jordan Sackaris’ goal in the 59th minute. She scored with a diagonal ground shot from the right side of the 18-yard box into the left side of the net off an assist from Sydney Arnold.

The Boilermakers’ best first-half scoring chance came from freshman Brady Riley in the 35th minute. Leinert took on two defenders near the top of the 18-yard box. The ball sprung free and caromed to Riley. But Marshall goalkeeper Emily Moreland was able to make a diving save to her right.

It was a during a corner kick scramble inside Purdue’s 18-yard box a little over five minutes later that misfortune struck via a hand ball called on Riley. But Ginther came through with the save on the penalty kick, snaring the shot at her feet after not overcommitting in either direction as Smith took the shot.

Vanessa Korolas, Hannah Mussallem and Dannah Williams went the distance among the Purdue field players. Dagny Olson was the first Boilermaker off the bench, started the second half and logged 66 minutes to lead the reserves. Freshmen Maddy Duncan and Breana Robbins started on opening night. Along with Riley, Ryan Dudycha and Ena Sabanagic also made their regular season collegiate debuts.

Purdue won its opener for the fifth time in the last six years and improved to 10-4-1 when playing its first game at home. Marshall lost in regulation only twice last season.

The Boilermakers close out their season-opening weekend Sunday with a 1 p.m. game against Montana. The Grizzlies were a 2-0 winner vs. Oakland on Friday afternoon at Folk Field.