VALPARAISO | An unlikely hero stepped up for Times No. 3 Valparaiso in the form of senior midfielder George Bukur.
Looking what likely would have been a 1-1 finish in the face, Bukur stepped up and delivered a game-winning goal with less than five minutes left in the second half to give the Vikings a 2-1 win over No. 2 Munster in nonconference action.
"I feel great," he said. "Lincoln (Barlow) played me a great ball and I was really excited. I thought the keeper (Jess Clark) was going to get it. It's a great feeling (to score)."
Valpo coach Danny Jeftich was impressed with the effort Bukur put forth throughout the entire game.
"He's a workhorse, and that's his job as a senior," Jeftich said. "He wants to lay it all on the line and fight until the end. All the seniors did a great job."
Munster coach Jim Prasopoulos thought his team put forth the effort required to win.
"Our boys did exactly what I wanted them to do, and they listened," he said. "We just made a really bad error defensively with about five minutes to go, and you can't turn over the ball against quality teams like Valpo. Overall, though, the team worked really hard."
The Vikings did a good job of keeping the ball on Munster's side of the field for most of the game, making Clark work hard during pressure situations.
After a couple misfires on key goal chances, the Mustangs (11-2-2) finally put one in the net as Derek Carlson's through ball was corralled by Zarko Coric, who tied the score at 1-1 with the tally.
The Vikings almost got an early score as Ben Wallace's shot sailed inches above the crossbar, but Jose Paredes made up for it, netting the first goal of the game for the Vikings (10-2-3) with a little more than three minutes remaining before halftime.
BOYS SOCCER
No. 3 Valparaiso 2, No. 2 Munster 1
Zarko Coric scored the Mustangs' goal.
More prep coverage inside
Munster wins its 29th straight boys tennis sectional. PAGE B2
Crown Point picks up DAC girls cross country title. PAGE B3
Bob Glover Jr. is named the new Hobart baseball coach. PAGE B3
