Valparaiso scored twice in the first ten minutes of the match as the Crusaders held on to defeat IPFW 2-1 on Sunday afternoon in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Phillip Dennis (Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces H.S.) beat goalkeeper Peter Hachaj just 1:43 into the match after receiving a feed from D.J. Catrow (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central H.S.).

Jason Witte then made it 2-0 Valpo at the 9:50 mark, heading home a feed from Dennis into the wide side of the goal. John Allendorf (Hobart, Ind./Hobart H.S.) also earned an assist on the goal.

The Mastodons cut the lead in half at the 29:48 mark as Barry Morgan beat Jeff Oleck (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral H.S.) into the left corner, but that would be as close at IPFW would get the rest of the way.

Oleck made eight stops in goal for the Brown and Gold, lifting Valpo to the victory. Hachaj made four stops for IPFW (6-6).

Valpo was outshot 15-12 for the contest, but held a 6-4 advantage winning corner kicks.

Valparaiso (3-5-3) will conclude its seven-match road trip on Friday evening when the Crusaders travel to DeKalb, Ill. for a 12 p.m. match against Northern Illinois.