Sunday, October 20, 2002

Lori Moore (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) scored twice as Valparaiso defeated Oakland for the first time in school history, 2-1 on Sunday afternoon in Rochester, Mich.

Valpo had played the Golden Grizzlies five previous times, dropping four and tying one, in which the Crusaders advanced to the tournament final on penalty kicks, before Sunday's victory.

Moore jump-started Valpo quickly, scoring just 44 seconds into the match on a shot from the top of the six-yard box. Kova Kolondzic (Appleton, Wis./Appleton East H.S.) drew the assist.

The Crusaders went into halftime leading 1-0, despite being outshot 13-4 in the opening half.

Moore struck again at the 50:56 mark, winning a scramble with a defender and beating Sarah Buckland to put the Crusaders up 2-0. The goal was Moore's seventh of the season, and 34th of her career.

Krisit Swaving cut the lead in half at 55:47 scoring off of a Debbie Cartmel cross, but that would be the only tally Oakland would get on the afternoon.

Kristen Templin (Madison, Wis./Middleton H.S.) made eight saves to record the victory in goal for the Crusaders, as Valpo was outshot 26-6 for the match. Buckland made two stops for Oakland.

With the win, the Brown and Gold are assured at least second place in the Mid-Continent Conference, and can grab a share of the conference title if Oral Roberts were to lose to Southern Utah next Friday.

Valpo is now 5-8-1 overall, 4-1 in the Mid-Con, while Oakland falls to 6-10, 2-2.

The Crusaders will return to action on Friday afternoon when they host DePaul at Eastgate Field. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.