A goal in the 79th minute proved to be the difference Saturday night at Brown Field, as the Valparaiso University women’s soccer team dropped a 1-0 final in Horizon League play to Youngstown State.

How It Happened

• The teams played to a scoreless first half on Saturday – while YSU held a 7-3 advantage in shots in the opening period, each side could only put one effort on frame.
• The vital tally came with less than 12 minutes to play in regulation, as Marissa Martin found the upper-left corner of the net for the deciding goal.
• The Crusaders had one final effort late, but a shot attempt from senior April Cronin (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) was wide left in the 89th minute.

Inside the Match

• YSU finished the evening with a slight 11-8 edge in shots, while both teams put just two shots on goal apiece.
• Valpo held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
• The loss was just the Crusaders’ second in 16 all-time meetings with the Penguins.
• Valpo enters the penultimate week of the regular season in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Horizon League standings and will play the other two teams in the three-way tie next week.

Next Up

The Crusaders (7-8-0, 3-3-0 Horizon) make the short trip to Chicago on Wednesday evening to face UIC as the battle to make the Horizon League Championship takes shape. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.