The Valparaiso University men’s soccer team held on to a scoreless draw against the Western Illinois University Leathernecks at Brown Field on Saturday afternoon. Stout defense on each side, and some sound goalkeeping from redshirt junior Nacho Miras (Ubeda, Spain/Nuestra Semora del Pilar) would hold the deadlock in place and give Valpo its first draw of the 2018 season.

How It Happened

• Chances were few and far between for both teams to start the match, as Valpo and Western Illinois combined for just six shot attempts in the first half. Miras made two saves to keep the score level at the intermission.
• Miras also made a full-extension, diving save with just two minutes remaining in the second period of overtime, denying the Leathernecks what would have been a game-winning goal.
• Valpo upped the tempo in the second half, doubling Western Illinois’ shot total with six and creating a number of chances in front of the goal.
• A yellow card inside the box gave Valpo the opportunity to open the scoring just past the 60-minute mark, but they were not able to convert from the penalty spot, keeping the score even.

Inside the Game

• Saturday afternoon’s result was the first match ending in a draw for Valpo since August 2017, a 1-1 tie with Michigan. It was also the first scoreless draw since October 2016 against Northern Kentucky.
• Redshirt junior Michael Marchionna (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) led the team in total shots taken on the afternoon with three, including a header that struck the post in the first period of overtime.
• Valpo had three players go the distance in Saturday’s match, with Miras, senior Alex Brown (MayPen, Jamaica/Glenmuir) and redshirt sophomore Julien Bertho (Plumelec, France/Richland CC) playing the full 110 minutes on the afternoon.

Thoughts from Head Coach Mike Avery

“The only real good news from the game today was that we didn't lose it. We tried a few times to give it away with some sloppy play, but we were fortunate in the critical moments in front of our goal that they either missed a chance or Nacho came up with a timely save.”

“Of course we also had the best chances to win the game - a missed penalty, a hit post on a header from six yards, a sitter from two yards hit over the top of the goal, a missed breakaway in overtime. These were all clear chances that a team like ours should be taking, but it would be a mistake for us to write it off as just unlucky on the day. We weren't ready to play today. That's 100 percent on me as the coach. I've got to do a better job preparing them, and I take responsibility for that.”

“We also have to give credit to Western Illinois. They played very hard today. If they can keep competing with this type of energy, they will have a good season.”

“If this is a lesson for our group in how we prepare, then this will be a valuable day in our season. We now enter MVC play with a road game at the team that is both the defending champion and preseason favorite. Our trip to Missouri State will test us. We have the quality to play them, but we will have to enter the game with a better mindset than we did today.”

Up Next

Valpo’s next match will be on the road against MVC foe Missouri State. The match is scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 22, with kickoff at 7 p.m. CT.