Soccer seniors leave Folk Field for the last time with a win

The Purdue Boilermakers (7-7-2, 3-5-1 Big Ten) hosted the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (9-3-3, 5-2-2) Thursday night at Folk Field for the final home soccer game of 2024,.

The Boilers played a clinical first half, building themselves a comfortable lead by halftime, and kept their composure in the second half to secure an important conference win.

“We've always known that we can put a 90 minute performance like that together,” senior defender Sydney Boudreau said after the game.

“It just hasn't happened yet this season. I think we really locked in this week in training, and really wanted to put it out on the field today.”

Here are three takeaways from Purdue’s 2-0 win over Rutgers:

Boilers win final game at Folk Field

Purdue opened its final game at home with one of its best halves of their Big Ten season.

“I think, not even just from a tactical or a soccer standpoint, just energy, energy and fight and grit,” Head Coach Richard Moodie said after the game.

“I thought we started the game really well and we finished the game really well. Everybody was excellent.”

Purdue started fast, controlling possession in Rutgers’ end for the first 15 minutes of the game. At many times the Boilers were one pass away from putting one in the back of the net.

The pass that broke the deadlock came 22 minutes in, when Gabriela Angulo sprung Lexi Fraley down the left wing.

Fraley drove towards the net and took a shot. The tough angle shot forced a save from the keeper, but resulted in a rebound that Kayla Budish pounced on. Budish buried the ball in the back of the net to give Purdue an early 1-0 lead.

The Boilers continued to dominate, and seven minutes later scored again to take a 2-0 lead.

In the 29th minute, a cross from the left wing was headed on target. Rutgers’ keeper made the initial save, but the rebound fell to senior defender Sydney Boudreau who extended her leg up above her head to hammer home Purdue’s second goal.

The goal was Boudreau, a senior’s, second of her career, and the first since her freshman year.

Purdue was confident in the attacking third all game, creating a variety of chances.

“I mean, they've got it in the locker. They can do it. It's a great team.” Moodie said. “Even on the second goal, there were about three neon shirts trying to force the ball over the line. Just shows a bit of grit and determination. We're a great team going forward.”

Last Home Game For Seniors; Hammer Down Cancer

Despite a cold night in West Lafayette, the Boilermakers came out hot to start their last home game.

The Boilers, propelled by an energetic crowd and Folk farewell, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half.

The latter of the two goals was scored by senior defender Sydney Boudreau. Boudreau's first goal of the season came in her last home game ever as a Boilermaker.

After the game Boudreau was asked what it meant to score in her last home game.

“Unreal.” Boudreau said, getting choked up thinking about it. “I couldn't be more excited being a senior, being at my last game at Folk Field. A lot of emotions go into that.”

Boudreau’s goal was just the second of her career and her first goal since her freshman season.

The senior left everything she had on Folk Field Thursday night, playing so hard she eventually cramped in both calves around the 82nd minute while defending a run into Purdue’s 18 yard box.

“I felt it in the play before. I knew it was coming, and the last ditch effort to get the ball started the cramping in both of my calves,” she said.

Purdue wore neon yellow jerseys with black numbers Thursday night to raise awareness for Purdue Institute for Cancer Research .

Game-worn jerseys are being auctioned off this weekend to raise money for the cause.

Wyville and defense keep clean sheet

After a hot start in the first half, the Boilermaker defense played a calm, composed final 45 minutes to secure the win.

Fifth-year senior Claire Wyville came up huge in net for the Boilers many times throughout the match. The Morriston, Ontario native made ten saves in the shutout victory, Purdue’s seventh shutout of the year.

“She was our first ever signing. She works her butt off in practice. You can't ever highlight one (keeper) without the other. So I felt it was fair to give her a chance,” Moodie said.

“And look how much it means to the girls, running up to her at the end. That's a good picture.”

The Boilers sent off their senior class with a 2-0 win and inspiring defense in the late parts of the game.

“They've stuck with us. They've never stopped fighting. And they’re the epitome of what it means to be a Boilermaker in my opinion,” coach Moodie said about his senior class.

“Work hard every day, they do their work, and these young ladies, they're going to go into great things.”

Purdue wraps up the season in Michigan where they will take on University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this Sunday and Michigan State in Lansing the following Sunday.