C.P., Valpo advance

HIGHLAND | It only takes one.

Crown Point only put one shot on the goal in its 1-0 win against Munster in the opening round of the Highland regional Wednesday, but it was enough.

Sarah Rivich's free kick at 31:55 from about 35 yards out went off keeper Parin Patel's hands and into the top right corner of the net for the game's only score.

"It was a perfect chance and I just took it like I usually do," Rivich said. "I tried not to think about it too much. I aimed for the far corner and just hit it."

The Bulldogs will take on Duneland Conference rival Valparaiso, who won the nightcap 1-0 over Lake Central.

The Mustangs have been a difficult match up for C.P.," coach Chris Mikrut said. That, combined with a pitch that was wider than his team is used to, kept the game close.

"We'll take it and move on," Mikrut said. "Getting used to this field is important. It was nice to get out here and get a win and be ready for Saturday."

Munster (11-8-1) didn't put a single shot on the goal, but coach Valerie Pflum was very happy with her team's effort.

"I think they played really, really hard. Everybody had already pretty much written us off coming in," Pflum said. "They just lost 1-0 to a team that's been slaughtering people all over the state. That tells you something."

Saturday's championship game is at 2 p.m.

"The goal here is to advance," Mikrut said. "Munster gave us a good test today and that's what we needed. Hey, we live for another day and that's the ultimate goal."

The Vikings' only goal came off the foot of Kaylee Pullins at 42:01. Anneliese Trapp deflected the ball to Pullins, who deposited it into the side net on the play.

Valpo (15-3) didn't take its foot off the gas there, though.

"Lake Central's got a great team and we can't give them any opportunity," coach Robert Cespedes said. "If we sit back onto the defensive area, we're going to be giving them too many opportunities."

The Indians (14-6) did have their chances, though. They peppered Vikings goalie Emma Kurt in the final 20 minutes.

"(Kurt) came up really big," Cespedes said. "She's been doing a great job and she feels like she's been doing a great job. That's the way it should be."

"The third win in the tournament, it feels great. It's an amazing feeling," Kurt said. "I just wanted to help my team as much as possible. What I've got do is what I've got to do. I just try my best."

Coach Lori Smith said the ball just bounced the wrong way for her team. Still, she was proud of the way they came together down the stretch.

"You're going to have your ups and your downs," Smith said. "Maybe tonight they didn't have the success, but they're going to take this and they're going to be as successful as they can in their real life."