The Valparaiso University men’s soccer team earned yet another result Saturday afternoon at Northern Kentucky in Highland Heights, Ky., as the Crusaders’ sixth clean sheet in their last eight matches  was enough for a 0-0 draw to earn a point in the Horizon League standings.

"It was fun to get a chance to play here in Kentucky against a good NKU side for the first time,” said Crusader head coach Mike Avery. “NKU has one of the nicest soccer facilities in the league, are talented and well-coached, and have obviously been a great addition to the league. We left a few really good chances on the table today, so we felt like we did enough to take all three points, but to be fair to NKU, they had a few good looks as well.”

The Crusaders enjoyed the edge in the offensive numbers on Saturday, as they outshot the Norse 18-13 and enjoyed a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal. Valpo had perhaps its best scoring opportunity in the second period of extra time, as junior Isaiah Madrid (Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado [Florida Gulf Coast]) struck a shot from the edge of the box on the right-hand side that ricocheted off the left post.

The efforts of the Crusader backs and junior goalkeeper Nico Campbell (Kingston, Jamaica/St. George’s College) helped Valpo earn its sixth shutout in the last eight matches. Valparaiso faced only two shots on goal, as Campbell made one stop while the defense was credited with a team save on the other. Campbell has now tallied seven clean sheets on the season, tied for second-most in a single year in Crusader history.

“Nico was tremendous for us in goal today, and on a day where we were just a half-step off, we feel fortunate to have the big man back there keeping us in games,” said Avery. “I give our guys a lot of credit, as we’ve been on the road for almost a month, and it takes its toll both physically and mentally. We’ve handled it all pretty well, and we’re excited for the chance to take on a good Michigan side Monday night in Ann Arbor.”

Valparaiso will close out its five-match road trip on Monday as it travels to Ann Arbor, Mich to take on the Wolverines of Michigan at 6:30 p.m. CT. The match can be followed online at ValpoAthletics.com.