Valparaiso University

For the first time in nearly 20 years, a pair of Valpo soccer players both found the net multiple times in the same match, as Kiara Desiderio (St. John, Ind./Hanover Central) and Martha Goddard (London, England/Alleyns School) both finished with a brace as the Beacons rolled to a 4-1 win over Oakland Thursday evening on Brown Field.
 
How It Happened

• It took less than six minutes for Valpo to get on the board Thursday night, with Desiderio providing the opening tally. The sophomore won possession in the attacking third and drove into the box, where she attempted a pass to a teammate. An Oakland defender poked it back into Desiderio's path, and she took advantage, finishing at close range with her right foot. The goal was reviewed by VAR for a possible offside, but stood as Valpo took the early lead.
• That lead lasted less than 10 minutes, however, as Oakland's Lilly Boebel scored an Olimpico into the top far corner on a corner kick.
• Goddard restored the one-goal edge less than nine minutes from halftime. A cross into the box was headed away by a Golden Grizzlies defender, but Goddard won the 50/50 ball, took one touch, and sent a shot from 15 yards along the ground, where it snuck inside the right-hand post to make it 2-1 Valpo — the advantage the Beacons held at intermission.
• Desiderio netted her second goal of the night in the 68^th minute to extend the lead. Daisy Boardman (Warrington, England/Bridgwater) sent a cross into the center of the box from the right, where Desiderio won it in between two Oakland defenders. The sophomore lost control for a brief moment, but recovered with a side-footed toe poke with her right foot from 12 yards out into the upper-right corner.
• Goddard delivered the finale in the 72^nd minute. The Beacons won the ball in the midfield, where Brylie Walos (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) sent a pass to Lily Printz (Fishers, Ind./Mt. Vernon). With her first touch, Printz played a 30-yard long ball over the top towards Goddard, who outran an Oakland back to get onto the ball. Goddard took one touch and then shot from the top of the 18, beating the oncoming keeper into the lower-right corner.

 
Inside the Match

• Valpo matched its season-best goal total with its four goals Thursday, tying its output against Western Illinois. The Beacons have now netted multiple goals in five of their eight matches.
• The four goals are the most Valpo has ever scored in 20 all-time matchups against Oakland, while the three-goal margin of victory matches its series best.
• Desiderio and Goddard became the first Valpo teammates to both score twice in a single match since Kendall Brown and Sarah Jewell each scored a pair Oct. 8, 2006 in a victory over Lewis.
• Goddard netted her second brace of the season and now owns a team-high five goals on the year and eight for her career.
• Desiderio is right behind Goddard with four goals this season, with Thursday night marking her third career brace in a career which has featured 11 goals to date.
• All three of Valpo's assists were the first of the season by the respective players, with Printz's being the first point of her collegiate career. Boardman now owns three career assists, while Walos has two on her ledger.
• Valpo held a slim 15-14 edge in shot attempts, but put nine of its efforts on goal to Oakland's five. The Beacons' goalkeepers split time in net, with Adria Schultz (Toronto, Ont./Michael Power – St. Joseph) making one first-half save and Salange Bell (Montclair, N.J./Montclair Kimberly Academy [Montclair State]) stopping all three shots on frame she faced in the second half.

Thoughts From Coach Marovich

"I'm very pleased with the performance tonight from the entire squad. We came out on the front foot and created early chances, and Kiara's goal in the sixth minute was a great start to the match. We did a great job winning aerial duels, and our defensive intensity in the first half was outstanding."

"Martha had a great left-footed strike to put us up 2-1, and she had an excellent shift all night. She created a lot of pressure on their back line and generated quality chances for herself."

"Our back line did a great job dealing with flighted balls and clearances in the second half. There was a stretch where we let the game get away from us a bit, but after the third goal we settled back in and got the fourth. It was great to see different players earn assists on those goals."

"Our mentality and commitment to our identity and standards were on full display tonight, on the pitch, on the sidelines, and in the stands. It was a great environment for the match."

"Payton Rofe came off the bench and performed well as an outside back, made good decisions in our build. Sophia Bonacci came on and instantly chased down a ball, put pressure on a defender, and came away with it. Sophia stepped on the pitch and started living our identity right away. Everyone got minutes tonight, and I'm so proud of this group."

Next Up
Valpo (3-4-1) closes nonconference play Sunday afternoon at Brown Field when it hosts Southern Indiana at 1 p.m. It will be Senior Day, as the Beacons will recognize their seven seniors prior to the match.