FIRST HOME NIGHT GAME HIGHLIGHTS OPENING WEEKEND 

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue women’s soccer welcomes Pac-12 Conference opponents Colorado and USC to the Varsity Soccer Complex for the opening weekend of an eight-game homestand, highlighted by the first-ever night game Friday night under the newly-installed lights.
 
Kickoff Friday evening against Colorado (2-1) is slated for 7 p.m. Sunset is listed as 8:18 p.m., so a good portion of the second half should be played with the lights in full effect. The Boilermakers (1-3) got their best look at their home field fully illuminated by the new lights late Sunday night after returning home from their game at Missouri.

USC (1-3) also visits West Lafayette for the first time Sunday for a standard 1 p.m. kickoff. The Buffalos and Trojans both take on No. 17 Illinois in Champaign-Urbana this weekend as well. The four programs have teamed up for a Big Ten-Pac-12 challenge weekend dubbed the Illini/Boilermaker Cup.
 
In 2003 and 2004, Purdue and Illinois also participated in similar four-team weekend tournaments known as the Clash of Conferences. However, the Fighting Illini (2003) and Boilers (2004) hosted all four games during those seasons. Evansville and Illinois State represented the Missouri Valley Conference in 2003 while Miami University (Mid-American Conference) and Wright State (Horizon League) rounded out the field at the Varsity Soccer Complex a year later.
 
Purdue’s longest homestand in program history begins under the lights and concludes in front of the Big Ten Network cameras Sunday, Sept. 25 against Iowa. The next four weekends could ultimately determine whether or not the Boilers can achieve a successful season in 2011. Purdue is looking to bounce back from a 1-3 start, during which the team played three of its first four games on the road. Yet while the Boilers’ nonconference schedule was front loaded with road games, the opposite applies for the Big Ten schedule. Purdue is scheduled to play five of its first seven conference games at home, a stretch that begins Sept. 18 against Michigan State, game No. 6 of the extended homestand.
 
The Boilermakers are 4-5 all-time against schools representing the Pac-12 (formerly the Pac-10) after dropping last weekend’s home opener to No. 24 Oregon State. Last year’s win at Colorado is not included in that record due to the fact that the Buffaloes were still members of the Big 12 Conference at the time.

Katie Leinert and Kellie Phillips accounted for goals in the Boilers’ 3-1 win in Boulder last season. Purdue also squared off against USC a year ago, losing to the Trojans, 1-0, at a Labor Day Weekend tournament hosted by Cal State Fullerton.
 
Both opponents this weekend have enjoyed long stretches of recent success. Colorado qualified for six consecutive NCAA Tournaments from 2003-08. USC won the 2007 national championship and has reached the NCAAs in 12 of the last 13 seasons.
 
Colorado has surrendered only one goal in its first three games, but that lone score against cost the Buffaloes a loss Sunday against Wyoming (a 1-0 final in Boulder). Six different players have accounted for Colorado’s eight goals this season. Last season while finishing with an 8-9-3 record, 12 players teamed up for the Buffs’ 24 goals. Hayley Hughes and goalkeeper Annie Brunner are among CU’s top returning players.
 
Colorado was 1-6-1 in true road games a year ago, but that one win was a big one, an overtime victory at fifth-ranked Texas A&M on Sept. 24.
 
USC has scored a goal and surrendered at least one goal in each of its four games. The Women of Troy posted their first victory of the season Sunday with a win against Pacific at a tournament hosted by San Diego. Brittany Kerridge has played a role on four of USC’s six goals, scoring two and assisting on two. Elizabeth Eddy and goalkeeper Shelby Church are among the Trojans’ top returning players.
 
Last season, Southern Cal posted a 13-6-2 record and defeated Illinois in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.