COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Sophomore Natasha Ntone-Kouo scored the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute to complete the comeback for the University of Maryland women's soccer team which rallied to a 2-1 win over Purdue Thursday night at Ludwig Field.

The victory improves the Terrapins' overall record to 5-4-2 and gives them a 3-2-1 mark in Big Ten play. The Boilermakers are now 6-6-1 for the season and 2-5-0 in the conference.

“Terrific effort on our kids' part,” said Maryland head coach Jonathan Morgan. “I thought the starters were great and the reserves were great, as well. The energy from the bench was fantastic. We came out and we did what we wanted to do. I'm a little disappointed in the first goal, but I thought we had a good performance. Our soccer was very good. Our team defending, as a whole, was very good. We protected ourselves against the counter-attack, which we didn't do against Nebraska. So, all in all, it's a good result. I think we'll learn from the mistake on the early goal and move forward going into the match against Indiana.”

Purdue took an early 1-0 lead in the third minute of play when Makaela Nellams took a long cross from the right side and one-timed it into the left side of the Maryland net.

Maryland's possession and skill was on display throughout the first half, but the Terrapins just couldn't get a clean look at the Purdue goal.

The first real opportunity for the Terps came in the 35th minute when redshirt sophomore Gabby Galanti was dragged down by a Boilermaker defender just outside the Purdue 18. Junior Sarah Molina took the free kick, but her try went right into the Purdue defensive wall.

A corner kick in the 40th minute gave Maryland another chance as junior Erika Nelson got on the end of junior Shannon Collins' service, but Nelson's effort was blocked before it could get to the net.

But the Terrapins were determined to get even on the scoreboard before halftime and when their chance came they didn't let it slip away.

Junior Riley Barger was fouled on the left side of the field roughly 30 yards away from the goal. Collins' took the free kick, but her first attempt was knocked down by Purdue's Megan Kaser, who stepped forward before the ball was kicked. The referee whistled the play dead and awarded a re-kick to Collins.

This time Collins' service was perfectly placed over Boilermaker keeper Jordan Ginther toward the back post. Purdue had two defenders there trying to clear the loose ball, but before they could junior Aubrey Baker reached around with her left leg and poked the ball into the open net in the 45th minute to tie the match at 1-1.

The second half opened with a flurry of corner kicks. Maryland had two early, while Purdue had four consecutive set-piece opportunities, but could only manage one shot on goal that was saved by Maryland's keeper Rachelle Beanlands.

Neither team could find a good look at the opponents' net until the 74th minute when Baker got off a good sliding shot, but Ginther was well positioned to make the stop.

The biggest save of the night came in the 77th minute when a sloppy back-pass by the Terrapins gave Nellams a 1v1 with Beanlands, but the Terrapin junior came up big with a dramatic sliding save to keep the match even at 1-1.

Ntone-Kouo almost gave the Terps their first lead in the 79th minute. Junior Sarah Fichtner sent a cross into the box and the ball was bouncing loose inside the six. Ntone-Kouo got a piece of it to redirect it toward the goal, but Ginther was able to recover her position and make the stop.

There wasn't anything Ginther could do to stop Ntone-Kouo's next opportunity, which resulted in the game-winner. Junior Amanda Gerlitz played the ball into the box for Ntone-Kouo, whose initial header was saved by Ginther. But the Purdue keeper couldn't control the rebound and Ntone-Kouo was able to put the loose ball into the back of the net in the 83rd minute.

Maryland coolly and confidently killed off the remaining seven minute without even allowing another Boilermaker shot.

Beanlands and Ginther each finished the match with four saves.

Collins' assist on Bakers' goal gives her a team-leading six on the season. It is also her 14th career assist, which ties her with Kelly Amonte (1992-95) and Jasmyne Spencer (2008-11) for 16th on the Terps' all-time assists list.

Maryland finishes its two-match home stand on Sunday, Oct. 5 when it welcomes Indiana to Ludwig Field for a 1 p.m. start.