The Valparaiso University women’s soccer team scored a pair of second-half goals in MVC action Saturday night at Drake, but couldn’t complete a comeback effort, falling to the Bulldogs by a final score of 4-2.

How It Happened

• Drake got on the board early on Saturday evening courtesy of reigning MVC Player of the Week and the conference’s 2015 Player of the Year, Rebecca Rodgers, who found the back of the net in the 10th minute.
• Rodgers added a second goal in the 54th minute to extend the Bulldogs’ advantage to 2-0.
• Less than four minutes later, the Crusaders responded to cut the deficit in half. Senior Grace Rogers (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) sent in a cross to junior Kelsey Jahn (Oregon, Wis./Oregon), who finished with just over 33 minutes to play to make it a 2-1 game.
• The Bulldogs would answer with another goal just 2:22 later, however, as Rodgers completed a hat trick. Drake scored its fourth goal in the 77th minute, this one coming courtesy of Hannah Wilder.
• Valpo tried to claw its way back into the match with a 79th minute goal, as sophomore Adi Johnson (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Christian) took a free kick which freshman Lauren Torhorst (Waterford, Wis./Waterford Union) headed in at the far post. But the Crusaders would tally just one shot attempt over the final 11-plus minutes.

Inside the Match

• Rogers moved within one of the Crusaders’ all-time record for career assists, as she tallied her 12th career helper on Saturday to move into a tie for second with Kendall Brown. Only Lindsay Holley, with 13 career assists, sits ahead of Rogers.
• Rogers also now has four assists this season, tying her for team-high honors and matching her total from last season.
• After going the first 45 matches of her Crusader career without finding the back of the net, Jahn now owns two goals in Valpo’s last three contests.
• Torhorst’s goal was her second of the campaign, while Johnson’s assist was her first of the season and second of her career.
• Valpo goalkeeper Drew Moulton (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) stopped three shots, while her Drake counterpart, Haley Morris, also made three saves.
• Both teams finished the evening with 12 shot attempts, with Drake holding a slight 7-5 edge in shots on frame.
• Saturday’s loss was the first for Valpo this season when scoring at least one goal, as the Crusaders were previously 7-0-0 when finding the back of the net at least once.

Next Up

Valpo (7-6-0, 1-1-0 MVC) continues play in The Valley next Saturday evening at Loyola. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m., and the match can be seen live on The Valley on ESPN3. Links for the live video, as well as live stats, will be available via ValpoAthletics.com.