Valparaiso University

The Valparaiso University soccer team began Missouri Valley Conference play on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Brown Field, falling to the league's preseason favorite and defending regular season champion Drake 4-0.
 
How It Happened

• The game's first goal came in the 20^th minute, as Angela Gutierrez received a throw-in and made a long run before feeding Zoey Mahoney, who finished mid-left from about 14 yards out to make it 1-0 in favor of the guests.
• In the 33^rd minute, after a Drake corner kick, the Bulldogs ripped a shot off the crossbar that deflected high in the air and eventually went off a Valpo player and into the net for an own goal. The Bulldogs led 2-0 at halftime.
• The Bulldogs sent a penalty kick high in the 58^th minute, then Drake's first goal of the second half came in the 67^th minute, when Claire Emmerich had a great shot from about 23 yards out as her left-footed strike one-hopped into the middle right portion of the net.
• Drake capped the scoring in the 75th minute with another long-range shot, this one from about 28 yards out into the upper left corner from Mahoney, who secured a brace.

Inside the Game

• Drake had a slim 4-3 edge in shots on goal despite a wider 18-5 advantage in total shots.
• Valpo generated five corner kicks to Drake's two.
• This matchup was a rematch of the 2023 MVC title game, won by the Beacons.
• Valpo's MVC schedule is bookended by the teams picked to finish first and second in the league. The Beacons opened league play by hosting the preseason favorites on Sunday and will round out the regular season on Nov. 5 at Illinois State, the team picked second in the preseason poll.
• This marked the second straight year that Valpo began league play against an always-strong Drake side. The Bulldogs have been the opponent for one of Valpo's first two league fixtures in each of the last three seasons.
• An unrelenting rain fell throughout Saturday's contest.

Thoughts from Head Coach John Marovich
On the result:
"A 0-4 result at home stings, and we own that. That's not the standard we hold ourselves to, and this group knows it. But how we respond is what defines us, and I have no doubt about the character in this room."

On the two goals that shifted the game:
"The counterattack goal midway through the first half was a tough one, we'd committed forward, and the ball bouncing over both players battling for it surprised everyone. The second came off an own goal trying to clear, and that put us chasing the game."

On the defensive work:
"There were many moments where our defensive shape and movement were well done. Our midfield did a solid job marking, and our defense shifted and held shape in a way that let our outside backs step up and press in the wide channels. That's what kept quality chances to a minimum on a day when they were hard to come."

On chances and conditions:
"Alyssa Thomas had a wonderful strike seven minutes before the half that their keeper made a very good save on, that could have pulled one back and changed the feel of the match. With steady rain throughout, clean quality chances were scarce with shot on goal being 4-3." 

Forward-looking close:
"This is a group that battles and doesn't get rattled. We'll move on, refocus, and be ready for Sunday."

Up Next
Valpo (4-5-1) will close out a stretch of four consecutive home fixtures by welcoming Indiana State to Brown Field next Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. The match is part of the University's Homecoming and Family Weekend.