SIU Edwardsville Nips Valpo in High-Scoring Affair

SIU Edwardsville Nips Valpo in High-Scoring Affair

There were more goals scored on Tuesday night than in the previous five Valparaiso University men’s soccer matches combined, but Valpo came up on the wrong end of a seesaw battle that saw visiting SIU Edwardsville capture a 3-2 victory at Brown Field. Each team had two second-half goals, with the Cougars scoring the match-winner in the 86^th minute of a fixture that began on a lengthy lightning delay.

How It Happened

• The first half saw Valpo goalkeeper Dan Rosenfeld (Mexico City, Mexico / Colegio Tarbut) rack up four saves while Valpo held a narrow 8-7 edge in shots. The difference in the match through the first 45 minutes was a left-footed volley by Greg Solawa hit into the middle right in the 28^th minute. The unassisted goal gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead through 45 minutes.
• Valpo had a quality chance to equalize in the 64^th minute, but an Adan Garcia shot hit the right post.
• It didn’t take long for Valpo to find itself with another chance as a foul against SIU Edwardsville in the penalty box resulted in a PK try for Rafael Mentzingen in the 66^th minute. The Valpo captain converted the chance, tying the match at one.
• The deadlock lasted all of seven minutes before Jorge Gonzalez scored in the 74^th minute on a Steven Bibas assist. A Bibas through ball turned into a right-footed chip shot by Gonzalez that made its way over the keeper, putting the Cougars back on top 2-1.
• The flurry of goals continued when Jonas Engler (Illingen, Germany / Georg Kerschensteiner Scule) drove one from the corner of the box into the lower left to equalize again, this time at two.
• The back-and-forth second half concluded with the Cougars throwing the final figurative punch as Gonzalez scored on a Lachlan McLean assist in the 86^th minute.

Inside the Game

• Mentzingen’s goal was his first of the year and the 10^th of his Valpo career. He’s up to three points on the season as he also owns one assist. That was just Valpo’s second penalty kick try in 2018 and the first that was converted.
• Engler also scored his first goal of the season, boosting his career total to four as only a sophomore.
• Valpo (2-5-1) outshot SIU Edwardsville (5-1-2) 17-13, led by Mentzingen with five.
• Rosenfeld finished with a career-high six saves in 75 minutes.

Up Next

Valpo will continue a stretch of three straight nonconference matches on Saturday at Bowling Green at 6 p.m. CT. Links to live coverage will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.

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