The Valparaiso University men’s soccer team earned an impressive road victory against a quality Milwaukee side on Friday night, using a header goal by Alex Brown (MayPen, Jamaica / Glenmuir [Cincinnati State]) in the 90^th minute to obtain the dramatic triumph. This marked the second time in the first five matches of the year Valpo has notched a match-winner in the 90^th minute or later.

How It Happened

• For the third straight match and the fourth time in five matches this season, Valpo reached the halftime break in a scoreless draw. The Panthers (2-2) held a slight 10-7 edge in shots in the first half, but Valpo placed four of its seven shots on goal. Milwaukee hit just one shot on frame.
• Making his collegiate debut as a redshirt junior who has battled injuries throughout his career, goalkeeper Dan Rosenfeld (Mexico City, Mexico / Colegio Tarbut) faced a shot on goal right away. He picked up his first collegiate save in the fourth minute, stopping a shot by Josh Kaye.
• Milwaukee goalkeeper Freddy Lorenzen wasn’t forced to make a save until the 31^st minute, but he fended off a flurry of Valpo tries as the visitors put three shots on goal in a 1 minute, 20 second span and four in just over five minutes. Adan Garcia (Dallas, Texas / Episcopal School of Dallas), Rafael Mentzingen (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Bryan), Akeem Bradford (Kingston, Jamaica / Camperdown [Cincinnati State] and Lucca Lacerda (Passos, Brazil / Mercy College) all put shots on goal during that stretch.
• Lorenzen made two saves early in the second half, but then did not face another shot on goal until the 90^th minute. Meanwhile, Rosenfeld’s lone second-half save came in the 68^th minute on a shot by Evan Conway.
• A corner kick set up the match-winner in the 90^th minute, as Mentzingen took the corner before Michael Marchionna (Naperville, Ill. / Naperville Central) headed it in to Brown, who in turn headed it into the goal.

Inside the Match

• Valpo permitted just two shots on goal in the game, while putting seven of its 11 shots on goal.
• Rosenfeld registered the win in his debut, making a pair of saves. Four Valpo players had two shots apiece, and Garcia placed both of his shots on goal.
• Brown scored his second career goal, and both have been match-winners. His first came on Sept. 26, 2017 at IUPUI.
• Marchionna’s assist was his second of the season, and he extended his team-leading point total to four.
• Mentzingen picked up his first assist of the season and the second of his career. His first came on Oct. 21 of last season against Central Arkansas. He now has 20 points in his Valpo career, which began as a junior last season.
• Four of Valpo’s five fixtures so far this season have been decided by the exact score of 1-0.
• Milwaukee entered Friday’s game with a strong 29-14-10 home record in Kris Kelderman’s six seasons as head coach.

Thoughts from Head Coach Mike Avery

“It was a tremendous team win tonight against a very good Milwaukee team. We’ve played a pretty good schedule early this season, and Milwaukee might be the best team we’ve seen. They are very well coached, they have talented players and they force you to concentrate defensively because they’re very good in possession.”

“Milwaukee gave us problems through the first half, but once we were able to catch our breath and talk through things at halftime, we absorbed their pressure very well and were able to get going in transition. We are a very dynamic team going forward, so for us it’s all a matter of defending as a unit. Tonight we did that well and the boys feel good about their performance.”

“We’re excited now to take the rest of the weekend off, maybe enjoy the popcorn festival back in Valpo, and then get back to work on Monday. We’ve been on the road for four straight games and we are all anxious to get back home next weekend and try and build some momentum before heading into conference play.”

Up Next

Valpo (2-3) will return to the pitch next week for a battle with Western Illinois at Brown Field. The game will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15. After four straight road games, Valpo will play at home for the first time since Aug. 24 in what is the final fixture prior to the Missouri Valley Conference opener.