Purdue Earns First NCAA Berth Since 2009, Will Host First Round
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue soccer team has earned a berth in the 2021 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship and will host the first round of the tournament on Saturday, November 13, at 7 p.m. ET, against Loyola Chicago at Folk Field.
The Boilermakers will make their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and first since 2009. Additionally, this marks the second time Purdue will host the tournament, joining the 2007 season.
Tickets to the first round contest will go on sale at on Tuesday, November 9 at PurdueSports.com/Soccer and https://boile.rs/NCAA1stTix21. Tickets to John Purdue Club members will be available beginning at 10 a.m. ET, while general public sales will commence at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and $3 for youth.
Purdue enters the NCAA Tournament with a 14-4-2 record. The Boilermakers’ 14 wins and overall record are their second-best ever, behind only 2007, and their 8-2-0 Big Ten record and second-place finish in the conference standings both tied the team’s best-ever mark. Five players earned All-Big Ten honors, including senior forward Sarah Griffith being named the Big Ten Forward of the Year. Additionally, the record-breaking campaign has seen several team and individual records be set. Purdue has been nationally ranked each of the last six weeks, its first appearance in the polls since 2009.
“It means a lot, it’s a little emotional because I know what this team has gone through,” Purdue coach Drew Roff said. “This group has earned it and, obviously, we all know the type of year we all had last year and coming out of that, to be able to create so many incredible moments together and just special moments out at Folk Field, it’s something that I’ll never forget. I’ve coached a long time, but some teams just leave that lasting image, and I think this is one of those teams that I certainly will always really look back on and appreciate and value.
“We just love playing at Folk Field, and we have had a lot of success at home. To be able to get back to the tournament after 12 years is amazing. To be able to be at home, in front of all of our supporters, is exactly what we’re hoping for. So, we’re thrilled about that.”
Loyola is making its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after it won a fourth Missouri Valley Conference tournament title. Also the MVC regular-season champions, the Ramblers are 13-2-2 in 2021. Purdue and Loyola have met twice before, both Boilermaker victories in West Lafayette. The first was a 1-0 triumph in 2006, followed by a 5-2 victory in 2009.
“Every single team is good in this tournament, and it’s absolutely going to be crucial we show up and put forth our best efforts,” Roff added. “Knowing a little bit about Loyola Chicago, and just from being close to Chicago and knowing some of their staff, they really play good soccer and they’ll be ready. Definitely, every single game of the tournament you have to be your best, otherwise you won’t be there long.”
This year’s tournament berth is the first in 12 years and the first in Roff’s tenure. The Boilermakers are 3-4-3 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and reached the third round in 2003, the second round in 2002 and 2007 and the first round in 2005, 2006 and 2009. In 2007, Purdue hosted the first and second rounds and posted a 4-0 victory over Oakland in the first round before a scoreless draw against Indiana in the second round.
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