Sunday, October 13, 2002

Despite playing a man down most of the second half and overtime, Valparaiso rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Loyola 3-2 in overtime on Sunday afternoon in Chicago.

Neither team scored in the first half with the Ramblers outshooting Valpo 6-5.

The Crusaders went a man down at the 58:37 mark in a scoreless match when Jon Flugstad (San Antonio, Texas/Robert E. Lee H.S.) recorded his second yellow card of the match and was sent off with a red. The cards were two of seven registered by the two schools in a 12:22 span and 11 recorded total in the match.

Loyola got on the board at the 66:23 mark as C.J. Bachmann tapped in a right side cross from Joe Nierzwicki. Blake Kluesner made it 2-0 Ramblers at the 74:38 mark scoring off of a rebound.

Valpo (5-7-1) cut the deficit in half at 76:03 when Mark Korba (Portage, Ind./Portage H.S.) connected on his fifth goal of the season on a penalty kick.

Ben Olson (Oregon, Wis./Oregon H.S.) tied the match at 84:14 heading home an Owen Hoyt (Spring Grove, Ill./Prarie Ridge H.S.) free kick for his sixth goal of the season. Olson then struck quickly in overtime heading home another free kick just 2:17 into the extra stanza for his third match-winner of the season.

For the match, Valpo was outshot 20-14 by Loyola (3-10), but Jeff Oleck (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral H.S.) made ten saves for the Brown and Gold. Greg Stellatos made two saves for the Ramblers.

Valparaiso will return to action on Friday afternoon for their home finale, hosting Centenary. Kickoff for Senior Day is set for 4 p.m.