Seventh-seeded Wisconsin upset second-seeded Purdue 3-0 as Badger captain Amy Vermeulen scored her second career hat trick to lead the offense, and the defense did the rest to preserve their third consecutive shut out. Two goals in the first half and one in the second lifted the Badgers to a semifinal berth.

Wisconsin had the first scoring opportunity of the game with the initial attack beginning right off the kick off.  The Badgers created several shots, and kept the ball in their attacking half for the first several minutes.

Purdue then created a chance of their own and earned the first corner kick of the match four minutes in.  Just two minutes later, Jill Sarbaugh fired a shot from the right side that Murray had to punch over the crossbar for another Boilermaker corner kick.

The two teams exchanged several scoring opportunities in the opening 15 minutes, but the feisty defenses held strong, hardly allowing a shot on goal. 

Wisconsin was able to get on the board first when Vermeulen fired home a cross from Elise Weber in the 23rd minute.  The buildup came from the back and worked out to the right side before Weber fired the ball in front of the goal for the score.

Purdue had two corner kicks between the 43rd and 44th minutes, but were unable to find the equalizer before halftime. 

Purdue goalkeeper Lauren Mason stifled several Wisconsin opportunities by coming off her line, while Lynn Murray in the net for Wisconsin stopped every shot she faced in the first half.  WU was helped by her defenders as Lauren Rudzinski cleared a shot off the goal line after a corner kick with under two minutes remaining before halftime.

Wisconsin controlled much of the second half in their offensive end, and finally broke through the Purdue defense in the 33rd minute.  Taylor Walsh fired a shot on goal which Mason blocked, but could not control the rebound.  Vermeullen punched home the rebound for the Badgers for the 2-0 lead. 

Parrissa Eyorokon had a scoring opportunity for Purdue a few minutes later, when a loose ball bounced in front of her inside the box, but Murray made the diving save to preserve the two-goal lead.

Vermeulen would make it 3-0 in the 72nd minute when Walsh sent a ball out wide to the right.  Vermeulen put a ball towards goal that lofted into the far corner after hitting the crossbar.  The goal marked the second career hat trick for the senior forward.

Wisconsin's gritty defense was able to do the rest, as Murray and her back four had an answer for everything Purdue threw at them.

Wisconsin advanced to play Michigan State in tomorrow afternoon's semifinal at 4:30 p.m. in Ann Arbor.

Big Ten Women's Soccer

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