Crusaders Drop Season Opener at IUPUI
The Valparaiso University women’s soccer team kicked off the 2016 regular season on Friday at IUPUI, but after waiting out a pre-game weather delay of over an hour, the Crusaders fell to the Jaguars by a 2-0 final.
Highlights
- Valpo looked to find the back of the net early, pushing forward and forcing a Jaguar defender to clear a ball off the line on an effort from freshman Ava Porlier (Downers Grove, Ill./South) in the sixth minute. The Crusaders tallied three shot attempts - two on goal – in the first nine minutes.
- It was IUPUI which scored first, however, as the Jaguars’ Krissy Kirkhoff finished on a breakaway in the 30th minute. IUPUI doubled its lead in the 50th minute on a header goal from Tori Minnich.
- Valpo out-shot the Jaguars over the final 45 minutes by a 7-4 margin and placed four shots on frame in the second half, but was unable to cut into the deficit.
This and That
- Valpo held a 14-12 advantage in shot attempts on the game, with both sides putting eight shots on goal. The Crusaders also attempted seven corner kicks to the Jaguars’ three.
- Valpo goalkeeper Sydney Galvez-Daley (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick [Creighton]) made six saves in net for the Crusaders.
- Eight Valpo players made their regular season debut in the Crusader kit on Friday, including three freshmen – Porlier, Ali Quillen (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) and Natalia Kontul (Solon, Ohio/Solon) who earned spots in the starting 11.
Thoughts From Head Coach John Marovich
“We had a really good start tonight for about 25 minutes, but weren’t able to get a reward for our movement and combinations. I was pleased with our defensive shape and our ability to win balls in the midfield, but after the goal on the counter, it caused us to have to chase the game.”
“We need to improve in our defending and decision making while dealing with counter attacks, but I like our attitude to press. These games give us great feedback to grow as a unit. We created several very dangerous opportunities in the second half by playing more direct, so I am encouraged that we can do different things with this group when needed.”
Next Up
The Crusaders continue their opening weekend of play on the road as they head to Bowling Green, Ohio to take on Bowling Green Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT, with live stats available via ValpoAthletics.com.
Late Goal Sends Crusaders to Defeat At BGSU
The Valparaiso University women’s soccer team concluded a brief two-match road trip to kick off the 2016 season Sunday afternoon, falling at Bowling Green 1-0 as the Falcons scored in the 82nd minute.
Highlights
- The Crusaders were limited to just two shots on goal for the game, one of which came in the 17th minute from freshman Natalia Kontul (Solon, Ohio/Solon), forcing BGSU goalkeeper Lauren Cadel into an early save.
- With the game closing in on the end of regulation time, the Falcons found the back of the net with just 8:03 to play, as Erica Hubert shot from the left to the right corner for the game’s lone goal.
- Valpo pushed forward straightaway off the goal, forcing Cadel into another stop in the 83rd minute and earning a pair of corner kicks in quick succession, but was unable to equalize.
This and That
- Valpo goalkeeper Sydney Galvez-Daley (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick [Creighton]) made four saves for the Crusaders to limit BGSU to just the one goal.
- The Crusaders made two changes to their starters from Friday night’s lineup, as freshmen Tahelah Noel (Buffalo, N.Y./Christian Central Academy) and Shannon Carr (Clarence Center, N.Y./Clarence) earned their first starting assignments at Valpo.
- Valpo was out-shot by an 11-5 margin, but earned nine corner kicks to just five for BGSU.
Thoughts From Head Coach John Marovich
“The way the game started, it gave us an opportunity to look at a few things in a different shape. These games, at this time of year, provide us with situations that will help us mold and shape this young squad.”
“I was pleased with the energy and the way our squad competed in the second half. We found our rhythm and ability to keep pressure with our shape and defensive intensity. Although the attacking third has been a challenge this weekend, it is providing us with valuable lessons to the type of attacking patterns which will work for our group of players.”
“I felt that Kelsey Jahn was a warrior for us today. She played the full 90 minutes and rose to the challenge in the holding midfield role for us.”
Next Up
The Crusaders (0-2-0) return home for the first time in the regular season Friday evening, as they get set to host New Mexico State at 7:30 p.m. The game can be seen live on ESPN3, WatchESPN and the ESPN app, with live stats also available via ValpoAthletics.com.
Men’s Golf Announces 2016-17 Schedule
Valparaiso University men’s golf head coach David Gring announced today his team’s schedule for the upcoming 2016-17 season. The slate is highlighted by a home tournament at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton on Sept. 6-7.
The Crusaders open the season Sept. 3 at the Notre Dame Kickoff Challenge before returning home to host the Crusader Collegiate the next week. It marks the first time the Valpo men’s golf program has hosted a tournament at Sand Creek C.C., and is the first home event of any sort for the Crusaders since Valpo welcomed Chicago State for a dual match at The Course at Aberdeen in 2009.
The slate continues for Valpo Sept. 11-13 at the Golfweek Program Challenge in Pawley’s Island, S.C. The Crusaders will then compete in tournaments at Colorado State (Sept. 19-20), Marquette (Oct. 2-3) and Dayton (Oct. 17-18) to conclude the fall portion of their schedule.
The team gets an early start to the spring portion of the slate, opening Feb. 20-21 at The Invitational at Savannah Harbor. The Crusaders compete at the Bash at the Beach Mar. 13-14 and head to tournaments hosted by Missouri State (Mar. 20-21), Indiana (Apr. 1-2), Wright State (Apr. 3-4) and Ball State (Apr. 14-15) before traveling to Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. for the 2017 Horizon League Championship, contested this season on Apr. 23-25.
