The matchup of the top two teams in the MVC preseason poll failed to disappoint on Thursday night at Brown Field, as the Valpo soccer team battled Missouri State to a 0-0 draw. With the result, the Beacons are unbeaten in their first three Valley matches of the season.

How It Happened

• The Bears outshot Valpo 7-4 over the first 45 minutes, but it was the Beacons who had what turned into the most dangerous chance of the half. Junior Abby White (Commerce Township, Mich./Walled Lake Central) lined up a free kick from 25 yards out in the 19^th minute and sent it at goal, where MSU goalkeeper Camielle Day had to leap to push it over the crossbar.
• Another free kick opportunity led to another White shot attempt in the 25^th minute, parried away by Day. The rebound fell to fifth-year midfielder Allie Anderson (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South [Xavier]) just a couple yards from goal, but she was unable to get a clean touch on the follow effort.
• Missouri State came out with a flurry of shots to open the second half, including an effort from Gracie English in the 50^th minute that senior goalkeeper Nikki Coryell (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) had to leave her feet to knock it over the bar.
• The Bears also had a 78^th-minute shot from Grace O’Keefe which came back off the left goalpost as the game remained scoreless.

Inside the Match

• Thursday’s matchup was between the two teams which finished 1-2 in the regular season standings last year (Valpo 1, Missouri State 2) and the two sides picked atop the preseason poll this season (Missouri State 1, Valpo 2).
• Valpo owns a 16-2-5 record in its last 23 MVC regular season matches.
• The Beacons are unbeaten through three conference fixtures for the eighth time in program history, including each of the last three seasons.
• Valpo has surrendered one goal or fewer in 28 of the last 29 Valley regular season matches dating back to the start of the spring 2021 season. Valpo has posted clean sheets in 16 of those matches.
• Thursday’s result was the program’s first shutout of Missouri State since coming away with a 1-0 win in Springfield in 2017 in its first MVC match.
• Missouri State finished with a 14-9 advantage in shots, including a 7-3 edge in shots on goal. Coryell made seven saves for the second straight match, tying her season high, as she posted her fourth clean sheet of the season and 23^rd of her career.
• Fifth-year center back Nicole Norfolk (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels) made her 77^th career appearance and start on Thursday. Norfolk now is tied for fourth in program history in career starts and tied for sixth in appearances.

Thoughts From Coach Marovich

“I thought tonight was a very good Valley game. Both sides played really hard, really well. The draw is a good result in that moment. We had some opportunities tonight, but didn’t put them away.”

“I liked the way we played. I felt we played with a better tempo, we were composed, we didn’t panic when pressed — some really great growth moments for our group. There’s a lot of things we can definitely feel good about our performance, and then there were others we can look at and ask how can we enhance what we’re doing. At the end of the night, I really enjoyed our football today.”

“Everyone who came in tonight gave a shift, put in some time and did some really good things. Getting Kelsie into the game, with her ability to hold the ball as a 9 with proper pace, really helped us tonight. Allie competed all 90 minutes in the middle of the park and I thought she was great, and Chase did what she does for us in the air. I thought Nicole and Anna had their best night of the season in terms of playing as a pair and the fluidity in their performance.”

“Nikki made some really good saves tonight, but I think what’s sometimes overlooked is how good she is with her feet. That’s a big reason why I felt like we were more composed in dealing with pressure, that we could play back to Nikki knowing a good decision would be made. Her ability with her feet doesn’t get talked about enough, and she was really good in that space tonight.”

Next Up

Valpo (5-2-4, 1-0-2 MVC) continues its three-match Valley homestand when Murray State comes to town at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The match can be seen live on ESPN+.