Saturday, October 02, 2004

Valparaiso tied its second straight Mid-Continent Conference match on Saturday evening as the Crusaders tied Centenary 2-2 in double-overtime in Shreveport, La.

Jon Brighton (Warner Robins, Ga./Houston County H.S.) put the Crusaders on the scoreboard just 3:16 into the match, taking a Nate Hyde (South Bend, Ind./Clay H.S.) cross from the left and beating goalkeeper James Speed.

The match stayed 1-0 into intermission, despite Valpo holding a 6-3 advantage in shots, including a 3-0 mark on goal.

Brighton struck again at the 54:48 mark with Jeremy Stacy (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central H.S.) drawing the assist.

The Gents cut the deficit in half as J.J. Meyer scored off a Jeffrey Krulin at the 64:51 mark. Ben Caldarera then tied the match with just 3:37 remaining in regulation, scoring in the right corner with Ryan Nicholson picking up the assist.

Neither team found the back of the net at the end of regulation or overtime, with the contest ending in the draw.

Centenary outshot Valpo 15-14 for the match with Speed making four saves for the Gents and Jeff Oleck (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral H.S.) making three stops for the Brown and Gold.

Centenary (1-5-1, 0-1-1 Mid-Con) earned six corners in the match, while Valpo won just one.

Valparaiso (2-4-3, 0-0-2) will return to conference play on Friday afternoon with a 3:30 p.m. match against Western Illinois in Macomb, Ill.