WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Illinois State soccer team was shutout for the second-straight game, falling to Purdue, 2-0, Friday at the Varsity Soccer Complex in West Lafayette, Ind. The Redbirds (3-2-0) have lost consecutive games for the first time this season and lost their third-consecutive game against Purdue (3-1-0).
Head coach Drew Roff was impressed with his team's effort against one of the best teams in the region and the nation.
"Purdue is a quality program and we played them tough today," Roff said. "We were tied at halftime and I talked to the players about winning the next 45 minutes, but Purdue came out in the first 15 minutes of the second half and just through everything they could at us on offense. They had us back on our heels a bit and were able to score. We were on defense quite a bit and we couldn't generate enough offense."
Junior Katie Grill-Donovan, the reigning Brine/MVC Defensive Player of the Week, tied her career-high with eight saves. She made two saves in the first period and seven in the second. Grill-Donovan also had eight saves against Central Michigan last year. Junior Ammanda Wisniewski led the Redbirds with two shots and junior Raquel Rattray and freshman Katrina Jakobsze each had one shot.
"Katie had some great saves in goal today and played really well," Roff said. "We had two or three chances to score and make things interesting, but they didn't happen."
Purdue had a 24-4 advantage in shots and a 7-1 edge in corner kicks. Illinois State had nine saves against two for Purdue.
Neither team scored in the first half, with Purdue holding a 9-2 advantage in shots. Wisniewski had ISU's first shot in the 33rd minute that was blocked and Rattray sent a shot high two minutes later.
Purdue took the lead in the 59th minute when Lauren Montenegro headed in a corner from Katie Leinert. The Boilermakers' lead increase to 2-0 in the 70th minute when Britney Scott corralled a loose ball and scored off a shot from 18 yards out. Both Montenegro's and Scott's goals were the firsts of their careers. Purdue outshot ISU 15-2 in the half.
Wisniewski had her second shot in the 51st minute, but it was saved by Purdue goalkeeper by Jenny Bradfisch. Jakobsze had her first-career shot in the 68th minute, which was also saved by Bradfisch.
"Our goal is to play well in conference and make it to the NCAA Tournament," Roff said. "If we do that, we are going to face teams as good as Purdue. To hang tough with a team like this, on the road, is a really good sign. I can't fault the players' effort today, they gave it all they could."
Illinois State visits No. 25 UW-Milwaukee Sunday at noon.
