The Valparaiso women’s soccer team set a new record for the longest unbeaten streak in program history Saturday evening, and more importantly moved to 2-0-0 in Horizon League play as a golden goal in the 93^rd minute from sophomore Robin Wenzel (Woodstock, Ill./Marian Central Catholic) gave the Crusaders a 1-0 win at Cleveland State.

The Crusaders have now won three consecutive matches and own a 5-0-4 record in their last nine matches, surpassing the 2006 team’s stretch of eight straight wins for the longest undefeated streak all-time at Valpo.  This season is also the first in program history in which the Crusaders have lost just once in their first ten matches.

"I thought the game was a classic Horizon League competition," said Crusader head coach John Marovich.  "The energy was good on both sides of the ball, and I thought that Cleveland State did some very nice things getting forward with some creative players, which really challenged our group." 

For the fifth time this season, Valpo and its opponent played through 90 minutes even - for the fourth time playing two full halves of scoreless soccer.  But for the first time, this game would not end in a draw, as the Crusaders needed less than three minutes to find the back of the net.  Sophomore April Cronin (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) won the ball in the midfield and hit a through ball forward.  Wenzel ran onto it, beating CSU goalkeeper Sarah Wood to the ball, and finished inside the far post for the golden goal, giving Valpo the three points.

The Vikings pushed forward early, throwing three shots on goal in the first 10 minutes of the game, but redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Galvez-Daley (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick [Creighton]) stopped all three efforts to keep the game scoreless.  From there, Valpo gained control, as they would out-shoot the Vikings in the first half 7-3 and earn six corner kicks, but the game entered halftime scoreless.  Shots were closer to even in the second half, as CSU held a slight 6-5 advantage while the Crusaders had five more corner kicks, but neither team could find the back of the net as the game went to extra time.

"I thought our side stepped up after the first 10-15 minutes and really settled into the game the rest of the first half," said Marovich.  "We got some good chances and earned a lot of corners, which speaks to the attacking mentality we've had recently.  Cleveland State made some adjustments in the second half, which we had to adjust to and figure out how to attack differently.  Towards the end of the half, I felt like we were able to combine better out of the middle of the park, and that's how our overtime goal ended up originating - winning a ball in the midfield and figuring out how to combine and get it forward."

At the end of the night, Valpo held a 13-9 edge in shots and placed seven on goal to the Vikings’ four.  Galvez-Daley made four saves for her seventh clean sheet of the season, already tied for fifth-most in a single season in program history.  Wood stopped six shots for Cleveland State.

"It's hard to single anybody out tonight, as the team as a whole competed extremely well," said Marovich.  "I thought everyone, whether a starter or coming off the bench, had a real hand in tonight's victory.  I'm proud of our group, because going on the road and coming home with three points in a Horizon League game is a big deal."

Valparaiso (5-1-4, 2-0-0 Horizon) has a bye in the next set of Horizon League fixtures and is off for the next week before stepping out of league play for the final time this season.  The Crusaders will face Loyola next Saturday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. on Brown Field.  Live stats will be available through ValpoAthletics.com.