Complete PDF Notes

Match #16: Friday, Oct. 19, 3 p.m. CDT

Valpo (8-7, 2-3 Horizon) at

Youngstown State (1-13-1, 0-4 Horizon)

Match #17: Sunday Oct. 21, 12 p.m. CDT

Valpo (8-7, 2-3 Horizon) at

Cleveland State (4-10, 1-3 Horizon)

This Week in Crusader Soccer: Valparaiso begins its final three-match road trip to wrap up the 2007 regular season with a pair of key Horizon League matches this weekend in Ohio. Friday the Crusaders will play at Youngstown State before heading to Cleveland State on Sunday. Every match the rest of the season will play a major role toward determining seedings in this year’s Horizon League Tournament.

On the Air: Neither Friday’s match at Youngstown State or Sunday’s contest at Cleveland State will be broadcast this weekend.

Series Notes: Valparaiso has won all five previous meetings with the Penguins following a 3-0 victory in Youngstown, Ohio last season. The Crusaders are 2-0 all-time in Youngstown, including one meeting when both were members of the Mid-Continent Conference. Valpo and Youngstown State met for the first time in 1999. The Crusaders hold a 3-0 advantage all-time against Cleveland State, having met every year since the Vikings founded their program in 2004. Valpo posted a 4-1 victory over Cleveland State last year and won the lone meeting between the schools in Cleveland in 2005.

Scouting Youngstown State: The Penguins are still looking for their first Horizon League victory of the season while also trying to snap a nine-match winless streak following a 3-0 loss on Sunday against Wright State. Youngstown State has scored just 13 goals on the year, led by Lauren Brennan who has eight goals and added two assists for 18 points. In goal, Caitlin Bodzioney has played a majority of the minutes, posting a 1.96 goals against average and an .812 save percentage.

Scouting Cleveland State: The Vikings snapped a three-match losing skid last Friday afternoon as Cleveland State defeated Youngstown State 2-0 on the road. Jennifer Wieand leads the Vikings in scoring on the season with seven goals and 16 points while Shayna Back has added five markers and three assists. Kelly Zinkiewich has started every match in goal for the Vikings thus far this season, recording a 2.41 goals against average with two shutouts.

Wrapping Up Last Week’s Action: Valpo wrapped up the 2007 home campaign last weekend splitting a pair of matches against Wisconsin opponents. The Crusaders opened the weekend on Friday with a 2-0 loss to league-leading Milwaukee. The Panthers scored in the 35th minute and added a penalty kick goal in the 67th minute for insurance. Sunday, on Senior Day, the Crusaders fell behind early before defeating Green Bay 3-1. Kendall Brown had a goal and an assist while Lori Johnson added a pair of helpers. Lynnea Pappas and Jackie Kondratko also scored for the Brown and Gold.

Win Against Green Bay a First For Crusaders: Valparaiso’s victory over Green Bay on Sunday afternoon marked the first time the Crusaders had ever defeated the Phoenix in 10 tries. The two schools had not met since 2001, though, having met for the first time since 1993.

Valpo Has Record-Tying Home Season: With the victory over Green Bay on Sunday afternoon at Eastgate Field, the Crusaders notched their seventh triumph of the season at home. The seven wins tie the school record for victories in a season at Eastgate Field, matching the 7-1 mark set by the 2005 squad.

Crusaders Looking to Move Up Horizon League Standings: With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Valparaiso sits in fifth place in the Horizon League standings. The Brown and Gold are just three points out of fourth place, the final position to host one of four quarterfinal matches in the Horizon League Tournament. The entire league is close, as just five points separate third from seventh place.

Win Total Among Best Ever Already: Valparaiso’s eight victories on the season already assure the Crusaders of a tie for the fifth best win total in school history, matching the 2000 team. The 2005 and 2006 squads each won 12 matches while the 2001 and 2004 teams each won 10 contests each.

Goals Against Average Currently Second Best All-Time: Valparaiso enters this weekend having allowed just a 1.06 goals against average, surrendering 16 goals in more than 1,350 minutes of action. The current GAA is second best in school history, behind the 2006 team’s school record of 0.86.

Valpo Ties School Shutout Record: The Crusaders have shutout six opponents already this season, tying for the school’s single season record. This year’s team has matched the 2004 squad which also blanked six opponents.

Murray Keeps Adding to Shutout Record: Erin Murray has recorded her fourth shutout this season, giving her 18 for her career. Her school record is the most clean sheets for any Crusader, male or female, in school history. The four shutouts this year are tied for fourth on the school’s single season charts.

Brown, Johnson, and Jewell Among Points Leaders: Kendall Brown has moved into third place in school history with 42 career points. Lori Johnson is seventh with 31 points while Sarah Jewell ranks eighth with 27 points.

Thomas Makes Goals Count: Jackie Thomas continues to lead the Crusaders in scoring with four goals, all of which have resulted in match-winners for Valpo. Her four match-winners are tied with Lori Moore (2000 and 2001) and Lori Johnson (2006) for the most in a single season in Crusader history. In addition, Thomas now has five career victors, tied for fourth all-time.

More Winners: Lori Johnson is third in school history with six match-winning goals over the course of her career while Kendall Brown is just one match-winner behind, as her five markers are tied for fourth on the all-time list with Jackie Thomas. Brittany Derksen joined Brown and Thomas with five career match-winner following her second this year.

Five Among Scoring Elite: Valparaiso currently has five players among the top-10 in school history on the all-time goal scoring list. Junior Kendall Brown has moved into fourth all-time with 17 goals while classmate Lori Johnson is alone in sixth place with 12 for her career. Sophomore Sarah Jewell has moved into a tie for seventh on the scoring charts after posting goal number 11 earlier this season. Brittany Derksen now has nine career goals, moving into ninth place alone while Jackie Thomas is tied for tenth in school laurels with eight tallies.

Several Crusaders on All-Time Assist Charts: Kendall Brown has moved into seventh place alone on the all-time assist list at Valpo with eight career helpers. Lori Johnson, Dana McGlone, and Laura Murphy are all tied for eighth place with seven assists in their career.

Winning Non-Conference Season Again: Valpo has assured itself of its fourth straight winning season outside of league play. The Crusaders have gone 6-4 this year, and have posted a winning mark outside of conference play every year beginning in 2004.

Michl Scholar-Athlete of the Week: Ani Michl was named the U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athlete of the Week on October 2 for her efforts both on the field and in the classroom. Michl had two goals against Indiana State for her on the field accolades and in the classroom was an All-Academic Team member in the Mid-Continent Conference last year.

Seniors Best Class Ever at Valpo: The six seniors that are wrapping up their careers with the Crusaders have won 42 matches in four years, the most of any graduating class in Valpo soccer history.

Valpo Picked Sixth in Preseason Poll: The Crusaders were selected to finish in sixth place in their inaugural season as members of the Horizon League according to the preseason poll conducted of the league’s head coaches. Milwaukee was picked to win the title followed by Loyola and Wright State.