The Valparaiso University women’s soccer team improved to 3-1-0 in Horizon League play Saturday evening and picked up its second win in as many league road matches, scoring a pair of second-half goals to win at Green Bay, 2-0. Sophomore Cory Griffith (Lemont, Ill./Providence Catholic) recorded her fourth match-winning goal of the year, matching a Crusader program record.

How It Happened

• The game went into halftime scoreless after a benign first half which saw just five total shot attempts.
• Valpo broke through for the opener in the 59th minute. Freshman Adi Johnson (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Christian) sent a pass up the field for sophomore Cory Griffith (Lemont, Ill./Providence Catholic), who finished to the goalkeeper’s left to open the scoring.
• The Crusaders took advantage of their eighth corner kick of the match to find an insurance goal. Senior April Cronin (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) took the corner for Valpo and sent it in to the box, where fellow senior Vanesa Abad (Barrington, Ill./Lake Zurich [Ohio State]) headed it home for the two-goal lead.

Inside the Match

• Griffith’s goal was the fourth match-winner of the season for the sophomore, matching a mark held by numerous Crusader players. The last time it happened was 2014, when Cronin and Rita Craven picked up four match-winners apiece.
• Griffith has scored the match-winner in each of the Crusaders’ last three victories.
• Johnson picked up her first career assist on Griffith’s goal.
• Abad found the back of the net with her first goal in just over a calendar year. The senior last tallied a goal in league play against UIC on Sept. 30, 2015.
• Redshirt freshman Tess Barrett (Tinley Park, Ill./Providence Catholic) returned to the goalkeeper position Saturday and had to make just two saves to earn the clean sheet, her third shutout of the year.

Thoughts From Head Coach John Marovich

“It’s always big to get the full three points on the road in the Horizon League, especially with the light rain throughout tonight’s game. These conditions make it very stressful for defenders to be sure of their footing while dealing with attacking players, flighted balls and balls skipping on the surface. So I’m pleased with how our back line played tonight in posting a clean sheet.”

“I’m proud of our group being persistent in finding the goals in the second half and not losing their focus. Adi’s vision tonight was good and was rewarded, as she played a really nice diagonal ball into a seam at the end of Cory’s run. Cory was composed on the finish, which is always wonderful to see in those situations.”

“We created four crosses that went across the goal mouth in the first quarter hour, but didn’t connect. That could prove to be frustrating, but our focus tonight allowed us to persist and get the result.”

Next Up

The Crusaders (7-6-0, 3-1-0 Horizon) play on the road next Saturday as well, making the trip to Wright State. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. CT.