Amanda Meyer (Somerset, Wis./Somerset H.S.) scored twice and Valparaiso overcame a pair of red cards as the Crusaders defeated Southern Utah in Valpo's Mid-Continent Conference opener in Cedar City, Utah.

Meyer put the Crusaders on the scoreboard early in the match as Meyer took a deflected pass from Courtney Budd (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West H.S.) and scored from in front at the 26:46 mark. Valpo took a 1-0 lead into intermission after outshooting the Thunderbirds 7-5 in the first half.

Meyer added her second goal of the match, and third of the season at 66:24 after taking a pass from Lindsay Holley (Waldorf, Md./Westlake H.S.) and scoring from point blank in front of the net.

The Thunderbirds gained a player advantage at the 68:28 mark after a Crusader was sent off for a red card. Southern Utah (0-12, 0-2 Mid-Con) took advantage at the 78:11 mark as Lauren Lewis scored from 18 yards out to cut the Valpo lead to one.

Southern Utah gained a two-player advantage with 1:10 remaining after a second Valpo red card, but could not tally the equilizer.

The Thunderbirds outshot Valpo 12-10 for the match and held an 8-4 advantage on corner kicks won. Each team committed 16 fouls.

Kristen Templin (Madison, Wis./Middleton H.S.) made five saves for the Brown and Gold while Megan Flowers made just one stop for the T-Birds.

Valparaiso (2-7, 1-0) will return to action on Friday afternoon when the Crusaders play a neutral site match against Northern Arizona in Cedar City.