Valparaiso University

It was a happy day all around for the Valpo soccer program at Brown Field Sunday afternoon, as the Beacons were able to celebrate the seven members of their senior class prior to the game as part of Senior Day and then came away 2-0 victors over Southern Indiana in their nonconference finale.
 
How It Happened

• The best chance of the first half came in the 38^th minute, when the Screaming Eagles got called for a foul in the box to give Valpo a penalty. But the Beacons' effort was stymied by USI goalkeeper Merrick Schwalbach, who sprawled to her left to keep it out.
• It took nearly an hour, but the Beacons eventually found the back of the net with a sterling shot. A throw-in on the left side went to Kiara Desiderio (St. John, Ind./Hanover Central), who brought it down and then slid it to Martha Goddard (London, England/Alleyns School). Goddard took one touch to settle and then unleashed a right-footed screamer from 24 yards out which powered into the upper-right corner to give Valpo the lead.
• Desiderio was on the other end of the Beacons' insurance tally in the 76^th minute. Brylie Walos (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) took a corner from the right, directly into the center of the box. Desiderio was right there to leap at the top of the six and head it home, just under the crossbar.

 
Inside the Match

• Prior to the match, Valpo honored its senior class, recognizing seven team members in their final season with the Beacons: Alex Arnold (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South [Western Michigan]), Daisy Boardman (Warrington, England/Bridgwater), Tatum Coleman (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern), Julianna De Simone (Elmhurst, Ill./York Community), Eve Miller (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area), Emma Paraskos (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) and Carly Stewart (Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay).
• Arnold, Boardman, De Simone, Miller and Paraskos were all part of the Beacons' starting XI on Sunday — De Simone making the first start of her collegiate career.
• While they are sidelined due to injury, Coleman and Stewart took part in a ceremonial kickoff prior to the match's official kickoff.
• The prolific pair of sophomores continued their production on Sunday. Goddard's goal was her team-best sixth of the season, which have come on just 19 shot attempts. She scored in back-to-back matches for the first time in her collegiate career, earning the match-winning goal in both fixtures.
• Desiderio was involved in multiple goals for the second straight match and for the third time this year, boosting her season totals to five goals and two assists.
• After entering the week with no assists to her credit, Walos registered an assist for the second straight match.
• Goalkeeper Salange Bell (Montclair, N.J./Montclair Kimberly Academy [Montclair State]) made six saves to earn her second clean sheet of the season.
• A pretty even match statistically, USI held a 12-11 edge in shots and a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal, while Valpo led 6-5 in corner kick count.
• Sunday's win means the Beacons end nonconference play with a 4-4-1 record — the fifth time in the last seven seasons they have finished .500 or better in the nonconference schedule.

 
Thoughts From Coach Marovich
"Today was Senior Day, and I want to acknowledge the dedication and commitment this senior class has made to our program. Carly Stewart, Tatum Colman, Alex Arnold, Eve Miller, Daisy Boardman, Emma Paraskos, and Julianna De Simone have made a tremendous impact on their teammates and coaches, and it meant a lot to send them out with a performance like this."

"We stuck with our plan on a windy day and didn't get rattled when chances didn't fall early. At halftime the message was to keep pressing in the wide channels and take advantage of counterattack situations, knowing we'd be going slightly against the wind. Sunday games coming off a Thursday night are a grind, and I loved how much this group wanted to attack and find a goal."

"Both finishes were fantastic: Martha curled one into the back post driving across the top of the 18, and Kiara powered a header past the keeper on a corner that senior Julianna De Simone helped create with her movement. Martha and Kiara have both scored in each of the last two matches, and they hurt you in different ways. Their teammates keep finding them in dangerous spaces, and that's opened things up for others in the attack."

"It was great to see Salange earn her second shutout, and her ability to hit longer service on a windy day was a real advantage. Payton Rofe also put in an important first half on the back line. Every ball was contested today, and this group answered the call. This was the ideal final preparation heading into Missouri Valley play next weekend."

Next Up
Valpo (4-4-1) opens MVC play on Brown Field next Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. versus Drake.