Oakland women’s soccer (7-9-1, 4-4-0) brought home a win on the road at Valparaiso (8-9-0, 4-4-0) on Saturday, Oct. 22. The result came off a Valpo own goal in the 36th minute. A Crusader passed the ball back to goalkeeper Tess Barrett, and it went in.

Oakland’s goalkeeper Alison Holland made one save in 90 minutes in the net (her fourth shutout of the season), while Barrett made four saves in 90 minutes in the net.

Oakland outshot Valpo 5-3, but had two corners to Valpo’s four. Oakland’s Emma Voelker put up two shots on goal, while Sydnye Gagner and Katelyn Wilkowski got one each. Alice Palmer had one shot.

“We played some really good soccer,” Oakland head coach Mags Saurin said in a GrizzVision interview. “We created a number of chances, and we definitely defended collectively really really well.”

She mentioned Holland and her shutout and said it’s great, but that there was something else.

“She took a few hits tonight, showing how brave she is in there, making it very difficult for them to get the ball past her,” Saurin said. “Very happy with our team performance today on both sides of the ball.”

The teams garnered 40 fouls, 22 for Oakland and 18 for Valpo. Valpo got three yellow cards and Oakland one.

“I think it was a hard-fought game, hard-fought three points,” Saurin said. “After some of the results earlier on today, we knew that three points was really our only option, and the girls came out and fought tooth-and-nail to get it,” Saurin said.

Oakland sits at sixth out of ten teams in the Horizon League standings. The league tournament begins on Oct. 31, with subsequent rounds on Nov. 3 and Nov. 5. The location of the games will be at the “highest seed that meets facility requirements,” according to HorizonLeague.org.

Oakland’s regular season finale is at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 28, against Wright State. It’s Senior Night, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.