Oct. 21, 2007
Contact: Brian McCann
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kendall Brown scored in the 52nd minute to break open a tie match and Valparaiso added an insurance goal late in the half as the Crusaders upended the Vikings, 2-0, on Sunday at Krenzler Field.
The loss dropped CSU to 4-12 overall and 1-5 in league play while Valparaiso improved to 10-7, 4-3.
Playing under near ideal weather conditions on a beautiful fall Sunday in Cleveland, the Vikings controlled the tempo of play for most of the first half but could not put a goal on the board. The shots were even at 3-3 at half but all three CSU shots were on goal.
Part of the reason for the Viking first half play was that they played it with the northerly wind at their backs. With gusts up to 25 mph, it made it hard for the Crusaders to control the ball and run the length of the field.
Unfortunately for CSU, when the teams switched ends at half, the wind advantage went over to Valparaiso resulting in a 9-1 shot advantage in the second half by Valparaiso.
Brown put the Crusaders on the board at the 51:05 mark when she took a pass on the left side from Jessie White and took several dribbles towards the middle before launching a blast from 20 yards out the beat Viking netminder Kelly Zinkiewich high and towards the back post.
"That kind of shot has been a problem all season for Kelly," Falor said. "Up until that time, Kelly had done a nice job in goal."
Valpo made it 2-0 at the 76:36 mark when Lauren Cooper gathered in a feed from Dana McGlone on the right side of the box and beat Zinkiewich to the short side from 10 yards out.
"I don't think Kelly saw that shot," Falor said. "I thought it was a catch able ball but Kelly didn't even react to it. If she had seen it, she would have stopped it."
Zinkiewich made six saves in the contest to raise her season total to 93, the fourth-highest total in CSU history.
The Vikings remain at home this week for a pair of matches that will end the regular season. CSU hosts Detroit on Friday (Oct. 26) at 5:00 p.m. followed by a Senior Day match against Butler on Sunday (Oct. 28).
