VALPARAISO, Ind. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay women's soccer team battled Valparaiso on the road Saturday night, and had a chance to tie the game in the waning moments, but ultimately fell to the defending Horizon League champions, 2-1.
The Crusaders capitalized on a pair of first-half goals from senior Rita Craven, who opened the scoring with her fifth goal of the 2015 campaign in the second minute of play. The midfielder found the back of the net again in the 26th minute on an assist from Vanesa Abad.
Trailing 2-0 at the half, the Phoenix defense was stout in the second half of play, as it held the Crusaders to just three shots over the final 45 minutes. The Green Bay offense also found its stride after halftime, recording eight shots, three of which were on target.
With time running out late in regulation, freshman midfielder Nicole Piette (Waukesha, Wis.) beat Valpo goalie Sydney Galvez-Daley for her second goal of the season in the 88th minute. Junior defender Katie Schulz (Plymouth, Minn.) set up Piette following a long free kick from midfield that was pushed in right at the net.
Green Bay made things very interesting in the final minute of play, after a yellow card was assessed to Valparaiso's Grace Rogers. The Phoenix used the late momentum swing to its advantage, firing off two shots just seconds later, including one from Sydney Born (Edina, Minn.) and a second on target from Piette. However, Galvez-Daley was able to come up with the save on the latter attempt to end any hopes of an equalizer.
The Crusaders outshot Green Bay 17-to-8 on the match, but were only able to muster four shots on target. Piette was one of three Phoenix players to register a pair of shots, along with the aforementioned Schulz, and sophomore KK Leskowicz (Racine, Wis.).
Green Bay will return to Aldo Santaga Stadium twice next week, beginning on Wednesday evening against UIC (6 p.m.), before it hosts Wright State on Senior Night on Saturday (7 p.m.).
BOX SCORE – VALPARAISO 2, GREEN BAY 1
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