WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Facing a ranked opponent for the first time this season, the Purdue soccer team suffered a hard-fought, 1-0 loss to No. 24 Alabama on Thursday evening at Folk Field.
In its final non-conference game of the campaign, the Boilermakers (4-2-1) saw their three-game win streak and four-match unbeaten streak come to an end. The Crimson Tide (6-1-0) won their sixth in a row, but were held to fewer than two goals for just the second time in 2024. UA also saw its offensive output limited after posting a scoring margin of 16-2 in its last three games.
Purdue had 11 shots, two on frame, and Alabama registered 12 shots, seven on goal. The home side had a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Junior forward Chiara Singarella had a game-high five shots, while junior defender Sabrina Blount had two shots. Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Edwards made five saves, one shy of tying her career high. The Crimson Tide’s keeper stopped both shots she faced.
The game’s lone goal was scored in the 26th minute.
Edwards’ first save came in the ninth minute on Alabama’s second shot of the game. A shot wide left by senior forward Gracie Dunaway followed two minutes later, and Singarella then had a chance blocked just after the ensuing goal kick.
Another nice save by Edwards was in the 16th minute, and she stopped her third in the 20th. Following a corner kick three minutes later, Dunaway made a great play to head the ball away just in front of the goal line.
The Crimson Tide took a 1-0 lead at 25:41 when Leah Kunde scored unassisted.
The Boilermakers responded to the goal, and just their second deficit of the season, with several offensive chances of their own. First it was a shot for Singarella that went wide of the left post, and the second was a ball blocked, also off the foot of Singarella.
Soon after, in the 33rd minute, Blount had a great opportunity off a corner kick, but her header in heavy traffic from inside the goal area went just over the crossbar. One minute later, fifth-year midfielder Mackenzie Jones had an opportunity blocked.
One more save for Edwards in the 40th minute preceded a blocked shot and a corner kick, which were the last opportunities for either team in the first half.
Purdue registered six shots in the opening 45 minutes and Alabama had nine, six on frame. The home side earned three corners and the visitors had two.
The first 15 minutes of the second half saw just one shot, a chance wide by Alabama. The next chance for either team was in the 60th minute, and Edwards made her fifth save of the night.
Purdue’s first strong opportunity of the second half came in the 63rd minute when senior forward Lexi Fraley earned a free kick just outside the penalty area. Singarella took the free kick and fired a hard-struck shot towards goal that went just high.
The Boilermakers had a chance on target in the 79th minute, as senior midfielder Lauren Meeks sent a shot in from inside the 18-yard box. However, the Crimson Tide keeper made a great save to keep it a 1-0 game.
Then, Singarella had a shot blocked in the 81st minute as the home side continued to apply pressure in the final third looking for the equalizing goal.
Fraley earned a fantastic opportunity of her own in the 83rd minute, but her shot, towards the far post, was saved by a diving Alabama goalkeeper. A minute later, Blount had a header off a corner kick that just went off target. That proved to be the team’s final chance of the night.
Up next, Big Ten play commences at Northwestern in one week, on Thursday, September 12 at 7 p.m. ET. Following another week off, Purdue is back at Folk Field to host USC on Thursday, September 19. Broadcast live on the Big Ten Network, kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET.