Friday, October 22, 2004

Valparaiso won its fifth straight match on Friday afternoon, picking up a rain-shortened 2-0 victory over Western Illinois in Macomb, Ill.

The match was called with 7:53 remaining in the contest due to lightening and heavy rains.

The Crusaders scored both goals in the first half of the contest. Lindsey Holley (Waldorf, Md./Westlake H.S.) scored the first marker of the match at the 27:22 mark, taking a Sonney Ziegahn (Anchorage, Alaska/Robert Service H.S.) corner kick at the far post and beating goalkeeper Carey Cowhey. Holley's tally was her fifth of the season and gives the senior 15 points on the year, tied for fourth most in school history. For Ziegahn, it was the rookie's first career point. Sixteen of the 20 Crusaders have now tallied at least one point on the season.

Valpo's second goal also came on a corner kick. Jen Bartels (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores H.S.) served a corner that was headed in by a Westerwinds defender and ruled an own goal at the 43:28 mark.

The Crusaders outshot Western Illinois 18-9 in the match. Valpo goalkeeper Erin Murray (Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley H.S.) made five saves in the victory. Cowhey made six stops for the Westerwinds.

Valpo won six corner kicks total in the match, while Western Illinois (2-10-3, 0-5 Mid-Con) won just two.

With the win, Valparaiso improves to 8-6-1 overall and 3-2 in the Mid-Continent Conference. The Crusaders now look for a school record-tying sixth straight win on Sunday afternoon. The Brown and Gold will travel to Des Moines, Iowa for a 1 p.m. match against Drake.