Valpo Soccer Falls at Purdue Thursday
 The Valpo soccer team suffered its first defeat of the 2023 campaign on Thursday evening in West Lafayette, Ind., falling to Big Ten foe Purdue, 4-1.
How It Happened
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Valpo earned an early corner kick in the fifth minute, but it turned into a Purdue goal, as the Boilermakers were able to counter and Lauren Omholt found the back of the net.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Purdue extended its lead to 2-0 in the 14th minute when Zoe Cuneio scored off a corner kick.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The game went into halftime with a 2-0 scoreline, but the Boilermakers added to their lead on an Emily Mathews goal in the 52nd minute.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Valpo took advantage of a free kick in the attacking third to pull a goal back in the 60th minute. Fifth-year Allie Anderson (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South [Xavier]) sent a well-placed ball into the center of the box. The ball pinged around inside the six before finally finding its way to the head of senior Nicole Norfolk (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels), who nodded it home to make it a 3-1 game.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Boilermakers capped the scoring on a Gracie Dunaway goal in the 68th minute.
Inside the Match
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The loss kept Valpo from enjoying its first 3-0-0 start in program history.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Norfolk, who entered Sunday with two goals in 67 career matches, has doubled her career scoring total by netting goals in consecutive matches.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Norfolk is the first Beacon with goals in two straight matches since Addy Joiner scored at Belmont and at Murray State last season.
–       All four of Norfolk’s career goals have come via the header.
–       Thursday’s match snapped Valpo’s streak of surrendering one goal or fewer in 13 consecutive fixtures.
–       Purdue out-shot Valpo on Thursday evening, 19-5, and put eight shots on goal to the Beacons’ three. Goalkeeper Nikki Coryell (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) made four saves in goal for Valpo.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Freshman Eve Miller (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area) played 20 minutes off the bench on Thursday, becoming the third Beacon rookie to make her collegiate debut this season.
Thoughts From Head Coach John Marovich
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Next Up
Valpo (2-1-0) concludes its weekend taking on power-conference opposition on Sunday afternoon at Kentucky. Kickoff is slated for noon CT, and the match can be seen live on SEC Network+.