VALPARAISO, IND.  -  The Western Illinois University men's soccer team defeated Valparaiso University, 2-1, Sunday at Eastgate Field.

"It was a very difficult game against a good Valparaiso team," said head coach Dr. Eric Johnson. "The game Friday night took a lot out of us and it was hard for us to come back mentally. We had some guys hurt from the Bradley game, so some other guys had to step up and play today."

With 16 seconds of play left in the first half, junior Martin Browne, Jr. (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo) found the back of the net to tie the match, 1-1. The play was created by junior Darryl Odom (Palmdale, Calif./Cloud City) who spun on the defender at the top of the box and passed the ball to freshman Arthur Paszkowski (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Lord Beavercreek). Paszkowski hanged the ball to the far post before the goal keeper could react and Browne, Jr. made the goal.

"We made a good play to come back and tie the game right in the 45th minute before halftime, giving us a boost heading into the locker room," said Johnson. "I do not know what would have happened if we would not have scored that goal."

The second goal of the match for the Leathernecks (4-0-0) was scored in the 49th minute by Odom. Browne Jr., slid the ball past the Crusader defender to Odom, who recorded his first career goal as a Leatherneck when he kicked the ball past the goal keeper from 10 yards away. 

"We scored another nice goal in the second half to go ahead and then we basically held on for our life," said Johnson. "We felt fortunate to get out of here with a win today."

The Leathernecks will travel to Birmingham, Ala. next weekend for the University of Alabama-Birmingham Classic. Western will face Memphis on Friday, Sep. 12 at 3:30 p.m. The second match will be against UAB on Sunday, Sep. 14 at 2 p.m.