Amanda Meyer (Somerset, Wis./Somerset H.S.) scored her first collegiate goal in overtime and Jennifer Bartels (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores H.S.) tallied a pair of goals as Valparaiso downed Eastern Illinois 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Eastgate Field for the first victory of the season for the Crusaders.

Meyer, who joined the Valpo squad four matches into the season from the track and field team, took a pass from Lindsay Holley (Waldorf, Md./Westlake H.S.) and beat the Panthers backup goalkeeper Tiffany Groene up top at the 95:19 mark.

Eastern Illinois (4-4-2) got on the board first when Beth Liesen was pulled down in the penalty area and converted on the penalty kick just 4:12 into the match.

Bartels evened the match at one after taking a through ball from Emily King (Colona, Ill./United Township H.S.) and beat starting keeper Lindsay Dechert from ten yards out at the 28:29 mark.

Bartles then put the Brown and Gold on top early in the second half. After just entering the match, she headed home a Holley corner kick at 56:42 to give Valpo a 2-1 advantage.

Shartne Connell tied the match with just 2:46 remaining in regulation though, heading home a cross from Laura Keating that had deflected off of Trisha Walter's head, sending the match into overtime.

Valpo outshot Eastern Illinois 20-16 for the match while the Panthers held a 7-6 advantage on corner kicks. Danielle Guerra (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) made five saves in regulation for the Cruaders, while Becky Maynard (Munster, Ind./Munster H.S.) was not forced to make a stop in overtime. Dechert made six stops in the first 64:34 for Eastern Illinois, while Groene made one save over the final 30:45.

The win marked Valpo's first ever over Eastern Illinois after the Crusaders went 0-7-1 against the Panthers prior to this meeting.

Valparaiso (1-7) will return to action on Thursday afternoon when the Crusaders head to Cedar City, Utah to open Mid-Continent Conference action against Southern Utah. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. CDT.