CHICAGO – The UIC women's soccer team (5-9-2, 3-4-0 HL) came away with the early lead Wednesday night but could not hang on as Valparaiso (8-8-0, 4-3-0 HL) answered with two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to take the 2-1 win at Flames Field. Anna Brusco scored for the Flames with her first in a UIC uniform.
 
The Flames were held to nine shots in the match as the Crusaders came away with 16 attempts. Emily Valentine turned out three chances and had one on goal, followed by Tamae Douglas with two shots.
 
Kelly Fritz played the complete game and was forced to make six saves, including three in two minutes in the first half.
 
In the ninth minute of action, Valentine sent the ball into the box and had it deflected to Brusco, who put it into the back of the net from 10 yards out to give UIC the 1-0 advantage that it would take into halftime.
 
Despite just a combined seven shots being taken the rest of the first half, the Flames were able to hold onto a majority of the possession. Following the goal, Valentine put two shots off target before Valpo got their first chances of the night on three shots on goal in a two-minute span starting at the 27th minute mark. The last look for UIC was from Olivia Everin on a shot sent high in the 28th minute.
 
The Crusaders came out aggressive from halftime and knotted the score at 1-1 in the 48th minute when Tahelah Noel took the ball down the right side and passed it to Morgan Manzke at the top of the six-yard mark to tap in the goal.
 
Valpo's persistence continued as it executed four more shots over the next eight minutes, including a tight scramble in the box in the 54th minute that had two near chances.
 
After another save for Fritz, the Flames were able to put up three attempts, with the best coming on a free kick from Valentine taken 30 yards out that was saved and a header from Douglas on the rebound that went high.
 
It was a back-and-forth battle from that point on with no shots being taken for 15 minutes before four came in succession for the Crusaders with two as saves for Fritz.
 
In overtime, a yellow card was issued to UIC in the 92nd minute that presented Valpo with a free kick on the left side from 25 yards out. Grace Rogers took the kick but sent it as a pass to April Cronin who was breaking into the box and netted the golden goal.
 
The Flames are back in action Saturday when they head to Dayton, Ohio, to face Wright State in a pivotal matchup at Alumni Field at 3 p.m. CT.