Sunday, September 09, 2007

Box Score

           Valparaiso registered its third shutout victory of the season on Sunday afternoon, posting a 2-0 triumph over IUPUI in Indianapolis, Ind.

            The two sides battled to a scoreless draw over the first 45 minutes of action, with the Crusaders holding a slim 8-7 shot advantage.  Erin Murray (Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley H.S.) made three saves in the first half while Jamie Farrell stopped both opportunities she saw for IUPUI (0-3).

            “I thought we chased the game for the first 15 minutes because IUPUI came out with a lot of energy,” head coach Stephen Anthony said.  “I felt we responded after the 20ht minute mark.  I was pleased with our play in the second half.  We stayed composed and just kept working to find a goal today.”

            That first goal came with 19:05 remaining in the match.  Brittany Derksen (Chugiak, Alaska/Chugiak H.S.) took advantage of a turnover in midfield and beat Farrell from 16 yards out.

            “Britt’s goal was a great finish after a good combination from Lynnea (Pappas) and (Jackie) Kondratko,” Anthony added.

            Jessie White (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove H.S.) added an insurance goal with 11:41 to play, taking the ball all the way to the end line and she cut across the field to beat the keeper to the far post.

            “Jessie’s goal was just a great individual effort,” Anthony said.  “After she won the endline she made a good decision to keep going to the goal.”

            Murray made two more saves in the second half to earn her 16^th career shutout.  Valpo finished the match outshooting IUPUI 20-10 as Farrell had to make six stops in the second half.

            Valparaiso (3-1) will now head to Purdue on Wednesday afternoon for a 4 p.m. CDT match in West Lafayette, Ind. to begin a stretch of three matches in five days.