The Valparaiso University men’s soccer team picked up a big league win on Saturday night on the road, winning at Milwaukee by a 1-0 final. With the win, the Crusaders prolonged their program-record unbeaten streak to eight straight matches and matched a team best with five consecutive clean sheets.

“I thought the boys put in a very professional performance tonight against a good Milwaukee team,” said Crusader head coach Mike Avery. “It is never easy going on the road in the Horizon League, especially to Engelmann Stadium, and the cold and the wind added to the challenge.”

Once again, junior Isaiah Madrid (Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado [Florida Gulf Coast]) answered the call for the Crusaders. Madrid delivered his fifth goal of the season in the 82nd minute, which turned out to be the junior’s fourth match-winner, tied for second in the nation, to give the Crusaders their second league win in as many games and push Valpo to seven points in league play.

Sophomore Ramone Howell (Portmore, Jamaica/Jamaica College) earned his second assist of the year, winning the ball near the Crusaders’ defensive 18-yard box before carrying the ball upwards of 60 yards through the center of the field before crossing it to the left wing for Madrid’s game-winning goal from about 15 yards out.

“It wasn't our best performance of the year, but it was one with a lot of grit,” said Avery. “We also had enough moments where our quality came out to create the goal, and Isaiah Madrid did what he does best on a spectacular finish.”

Valparaiso’s defense and goalkeeper Nico Campbell (Kingston, Jamaica/St. George’s College) continued to excel on the field. The Crusaders landed their fifth consecutive shutout, tying a program record set back in 2011, while extending their scoreless streak to 552 minutes, just six minutes shy of the program record in that category. Campbell recorded three saves on the night for the team’s sixth clean sheet of the season, tied for third-most in the nation.

The Crusaders played aggressive throughout the game offensively, outshooting Milwaukee 20-14. Valpo put eight shots on frame to three for Milwaukee (2-5-2, 1-1-1 Horizon), forcing Panthers goalkeeper Agustin Rey to make seven saves in the losing effort.

“Three points feels good right now, so we will enjoy it for the next few hours as we ride home, and then turn our attention to next week's game with Wright State,” said Avery.

Valparaiso (6-2-2, 2-0-1 Horizon) now sits just one point off the top of the table with a game in hand. The Crusaders will have a week to prepare for another road league matchup next Saturday at Wright State at 6 p.m. CT.