Box Score

                Jackie Thomas (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest H.S.) headed home a restart from Dana McGlone (Centennial, Colo./Cheery Creek H.S.) with just 1:18 to play in regulation to give Valparaiso a 2-1 victory over Youngstown State on Friday afternoon at Eastgate Field to secure its first Horizon League win in 2008.

                The Crusaders rallied from a goal down to earn the win late after holding a large advantage in shot attempts, including a 12-3 edge on goal.

                Youngstown State (2-9, 0-3 Horizon) found the scoreboard quickly just 6:24 into the match.  Natalie Brady sent an apparent cross from the right side that found its way to the far post and into the goal.

                Valpo responded right before intermission.  Laura Murphy (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley H.S.) took a cross from Kendall Brown (Lake Zurich, Ill./Carmel Catholic H.S.) and fired it past Mariah Snyder from 15 yards out to tie the match at one with 2:37 remaining on the clock.

                Laura did a great job on that goal,” head coach John Marovich said.   “Instead of playing the ball too soon, she let the ball come across her body before she played it, and she was able to turn and make a great strike on it for the goal."

                The Crusaders had a 14-7 shot advantage in the opening 45 minutes, and forced Snyder to make six saves.

                The match stayed even until a Penguin foul with just over a minute left which gave McGlone the restart three yards outside the box on the right side and she found Thomas for the match-winner.

                "Jackie is just an outstanding soccer player,” said Marovich.  “I don't think she gets talked about enough in the back, but she just does her job back there so well and holds us together.  She did a great job coming through on the set-piece late for us again today."

                Valpo finished the match with a 23-11 advantage in shot attempts.  Mele Cabral (Boulder, Colo./Fairview H.S.) made two saves for the Crusaders while Snyder finished with 10 for the match for Youngstown State.

                “I really liked the progress we've had from our last two matches to today,” added Marovich.  “I thought we especially did a good job keeping Youngstown State from getting good scoring chances, and that's a testament to our midfielders and defenders."

                Valparaiso (8-3-1, 1-2) will head to Detroit next Friday afternoon for a 2 p.m. CDT match against the Titans.

Match Notes: Valpo is 7-0 all-time against Youngstown State … Marovich has tied Ceyhun Ozgur for second all-time in program history with eight coaching victories … Thomas now has six career match-winning goals, tied for fourth in school history all-time … Brown and McGlone are now both tied for second all-time with 10 career assists … Thomas moved into a tie for ninth all-time with 10 career goals.