By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)
GreenBayPhoenix.com
GREEN BAY,
Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Green
Bay hosted Valparaiso on Saturday afternoon for an important Senior Day women's
soccer contest, but it was an unfortunate injury to senior captain Megan Braatz (Waukesha, Wis.) that was
too much for the Phoenix to overcome. Braatz, one of the top goal scorers in the
Horizon League, left the game late in the first half, and visiting Valparaiso
(10-5-3, 3-2-2 HL) used a second half goal to post a 1-0 victory over Green Bay
(5-11-1, 2-4-1 HL).
After a 2-1 overtime victory over Wright State earlier
in the day, Green Bay was in a must-win situation in an attempt to secure a
spot in the Horizon League Championship. The tough loss ended the season as
well as the careers of Braatz and fellow senior Chanel Aries (Calgary, Alberta). Braatz had a team-high five goals
this season and seven in her career, and Aries played in 68 games in a Phoenix
uniform.
Green Bay came out strong in the opening half and held
a 6-4 edge in shot attempts at the half. Braatz had a couple of looks at the
goal, including her strike in the 32nd minute that was saved by Valpo keeper
Kristen Manski. Junior Ahna Logan (Roseville,
Minn.) led the Phoenix in shot attempts with three.
The contest remained scoreless for the first 22 minutes
of the second half, but that is when the Crusaders struck for the game's lone
goal. Tara Ellis served a corner kick into the box, and Katie Gratzianna got on
the end of it and headed it past Phoenix keeper Nastacia Behle (St. Paul, Mo.) for the goal.
Behle made her second-straight start in goal and
performed well for the Phoenix, collecting five saves. The keeper is one of 22
freshmen and sophomores on the Phoenix roster slated to return in 2013.
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