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Purdue football is finally back in the top 25!
Well, not THAT football, but the ladies metric football team parlayed a weekend split with top 25 teams Michigan (a 2-1 loss) and Wisconsin (a 2-1 win) into a top 25 ranking for the first time in 12 years. They are currently ranked 25th. Purdue is an impressive 9-2-2 on the season with losses only to #24 Notre Dame and #16 Michigan, both by one goal. They are 4-1-0 in Big Ten play, and have a legitimate shot at the first Big Ten championship in program history.
Like soccer leagues all over the world, the Big Ten soccer standings work on a point system of 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss. Purdue is currently tied for first place with #8 Rutgers (4-0) on 12 points, with Michigan State (3-1-1) and Northwestern (3-1-1) just behind with 10 points. The only other top 25 team in the conference this week is Michigan, as Wisconsin dropped out after losing to Purdue.
The Boilers host Minnesota (2-3 in B1G play) on Sunday for their only game this week. They do not have Rutgers on the regular season schedule, so if the Scarlet Knights drop a game they control their destiny for the title. They are also now in full control of reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.
The team is powered by Sarah Griffith, who earned her third Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Award this week for scoring all three Purdue goals this past weekend. She leads the Big Ten with 10 goals on the year.
Volleyball Falls to Sixth
A week after reaching the highest ranking in program history at No. 4 Purdue had a rare home stumble on Friday. Unranked Illinois came to Holloway Gym and stunned Purdue 3-2. It was a frustrating loss as Purdue dominated its two set wins by 10 and 7, but dropped two sets by the minimum of 2 (including set 1 30-28) and the deciding set by 5. That means they outscored The Illini by 8 overall, lost the match.
The ladies vented on Sunday against Rutgers, winning 25-6, 25-17, 25-15. The first set was a program record set win.
Purdue gets a chance at revenge Wednesday night by going to Illinois before heading to Iowa on Saturday. They are currently a game behind Nebraska and Penn State in the always brutal Big Ten standings.