PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER DROPS WILD ROAD GAME AT MISSOURI, 4-2     

COLUMBIA, Mo.– Purdue women’s soccer took an early lead and later pulled within a goal in the second half, but Missouri answered both scores and tacked on two additional goals, defeating the Boilers, 4-2, Sunday afternoon.

Purdue (1-3) received goals from seniors Alexis Tryba and Kaitlyn Blacha, ending a scoring drought of 230 consecutive minutes after getting shutout in back-to-back games since winning its season opener.

The Tigers (3-1) hit the crossbar four times in the first half but also benefited from a no-call on a potential offsides or goalkeeper obstruction as they scored their second goal of the game in the 35th minute.

Tryba scored in the 21st minute, her eighth career goal, and Blacha registered her second career score in the 75th minute. On both occasions, Mizzou responded with a goal about five minutes later. Four different players accounted for the Tigers’ four scores and the home side strung together three unanswered goals after Purdue took its early lead.

Alex Hairston setup Tryba’s goal with a nice move on the right flank and a quick centering pass to Tryba in the heart of the 18-yard box. Even with a Mizzou defender providing pressure, Tryba successfully sent a one-touch redirection into the net. The Boilers suffered their first loss in a game in which Tryba has scored.

Blacha finished off a corner kick to make it a 3-2 game in the second half. Kellie Phillips put the ball in play from the northwest corner and Anna Thyen deflected it to Blacha near the right post. Blacha got off a clean shot and blasted the ball into the top of the net. Phillips was credited with her 19th career assist on the score, moving into second place on Purdue’s all-time list.

One of the four shots off the crossbar led to Missouri’s first goal, which tied the game in the 26th minute. Haley Krentz hit the crossbar with her shot attempt but it led to an easy rebound chance for Abi Raymer.

Dominiqu Richardson headed in a corner in the 35th minute to give the Tigers a halftime lead. As the ball was played in from left to right, Richardson won the ball on the right side of the 18-yard box. The Purdue coaching staff and goalkeeper Clara Kridler argued that the player directly in front of Kridler as the goal was scored was offsides and not making an effort to play the ball.

Missouri’s second half goals were scored by Danielle Nottingham and Alyssa Diggs in the 51st and 80th minutes, respectively. Nottingham scored with a diagonal right to left ground shot inside the left post. Diggs capitalized on a right to left cross and scored point blank at the left post.

In the 63rd minute, Hairston had a pair of good scoring chances, forcing Mizzou goalkeeper McKenzie Sauerwein to make a diving save and missing just wide of the left post not long after. The Boilermakers had another extended scramble in front of the goal following a corner kick late in the game. But the Tigers led by two goals at the time of both flurries.

Kridler finished with six saves, four coming in the first half. Corner kicks were even at four apiece in the second half after Mizzou had an 8-1 edge in the opening 45 minutes.

Brookley Rogers was the lone Purdue field player that went the distance. Jessica Warren left the pitch for the first time this season, heading to the bench in the second half. Rachael Kimack logged 53 minutes to lead the reserves. Freshmen Michelle Devilbiss, Jackie Kurgan and Thyen made their collegiate debuts Sunday.

The Boilermakers return to action Friday when they host Colorado in the opener of a program-long eight-game homestand. With kickoff set for 7 p.m. at the Varsity Soccer Complex, the match is slated to be the first-ever night game at Purdue’s home field.