Freshman Steve Shively (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) scored his third match-winning goal of the season and classmate Ryan Schwarz (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) posted his fourth shutout of the year as Valpo knocked off preseason conference favorite Oakland for the second year in a row, 1-0 Saturday at Eastgate Field in Valparaiso, Ind.

Shively, who had match-winners in the first two contests of the season but had been scoreless since then, cleaned up a rebound from point blank range in the 53rd minute for the only scoring of the match. Jon Brighton (Warner Robins, Ga./Houston County) blasted the initial shot off Golden Grizzlies keeper Steve Clark and picked up the assist, his third of the year.

The Crusaders controlled the match through the first 55 minutes, out-shooting Oakland 8-1 in the first half and holding the Golden Grizzlies without a shot on goal in the first 45 minutes. But the visitors picked up the attack in the second half, out-shooting the Crusaders 9-4 but Schwarz was there every time, making three saves for the shutout.

The Valpo keeper has equaled Jeff Oleck's school record for shutouts by a freshman, and is only two shy of Kevin Hughes' 19-year-old single-season program record. Schwarz has two shutouts through three Mid-Con matches.

Wade Allen led the Golden Grizzlies (3-8-0, 1-2-0 Mid-Con) with five shots, but Oakland was out-shot 12-10 for the match. The two clubs have met three times since the start of 2004, with Valpo winning a pair of 1-0 decisions in the regular season but Oakland taking the biggest matchup, 4-2 in the semifinals of the 2005 Mid-Con Tournament.

Valpo (6-4-0, 2-1-0 Mid-Con) has equaled their win total from a season ago and has a quick turnaround before their next match, Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. against regionally ranked Northwestern in Evanston, Ill.

box score
season stats