Valparaiso University

It wasn't for a lack of trying, as the Valpo soccer team and visiting opponent UIC combined for 33 shot attempts Sunday afternoon at Brown Field, but neither side was able to find the back of the net as the match hit full time deadlocked 0-0.
 
How It Happened

• Valpo controlled the possession in the first half and had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes late in the half, as Brylie Walos (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) ripped a shot from the top-left corner of the 18-yard box that looked on target for the top-right corner of the goal before UIC keeper Sidney Lazenby laid out to her left to push it away.
• The visitors had more of the match in the second half than they did the first half, but the Valpo defense and goalkeeper Salange Bell (Montclair, N.J./Montclair Kimberly Academy [Montclair State]) did well to snuff out any dangerous situations from the Flames.
• The Beacons had a pair of strong chances late in the second half. Kiara Desiderio (St. John, Ind./Hanover Central) had a shot from the center of the box that went just over the crossbar in the 80^th minute. Then, with under three minutes to play, Alyssa Thomas (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee [Wright State]) had an effort from the edge of the six which actually beat Lazenby, but a UIC defender was back to clear it off the line.

 
Inside the Match

• Sunday's result, combined with the other MVC results, puts Valpo in seventh place entering the final match day of the season Thursday afternoon. To qualify for the six-team MVC Tournament, the Beacons need a win over Illinois State and need one of either Belmont or Indiana State to drop points in their respective final matches.
• Sunday was the Beacons' first scoreless draw of the season and their first 0-0 final since a scoreless draw versus Illinois State on Sept. 25 of last year.
• Dating back to 2022, each of Valpo's last four 0-0 ties have come in Valley play.
• Sunday also wrapped up the 2026 home slate at Brown Field, unless the Beacons enter the MVC Tournament as the fifth seed and host the sixth seed in a championship match. Valpo ended the year with a 5-3-1 record on its home turf, matching its second-best home record in the last nine seasons.
• UIC finished the afternoon with an 18-15 edge in the shots department, but Valpo put six of its efforts on goal to UIC's five. The Beacons also enjoyed an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks.
• Bell stopped all five of the Flames' shots on goal to earn her third shutout of the season and her first within MVC play.

Thoughts From Coach Marovich
"We had a really strong start to the match and created lots of service into the box. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get an early goal."

"I'm really proud of how hard our team fought and the energy level they competed with today. Brylie had a chance turned away by a really good save by the UIC keeper. Alyssa had her shot saved off the line and Kiara had a volley which went over the crossbar. We had several flurries in the box that were turned away." 

"We are still alive in the conference tournament race and Thursday gives us an opportunity to get our seniors another game, So now we just go into everything this week with the idea that we're going to try and earn ourselves another game."

Next Up
Valpo (6-8-3, 2-4-2 MVC) has it all to play for on Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Illinois State.