Complete Notes in PDF

Match #13: Friday, Oct. 10, 2 p.m. CDT
Valpo (8-3-1, 1-2 Horizon)
at Detroit (5-5-1, 2-1 Horizon)
Match #14: Sunday, Oct. 12, 1 p.m. CDT
SIU-Edwardsville (5-4, 0-0 OVC)
at Valpo (8-3-1, 1-2 Horizon)

This Week in Crusader Soccer: Valpo heads to Michigan on Friday afternoon for a key Horizon League road match against Detroit to begin the weekend.  The Brown and Gold then returns to Eastgate Field to begin its final three-match homestand of the year on Sunday with a non-conference tilt against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

On the Air: There will be no live audio of either match this weekend.  Live stats will also be provided through www.valpoathletics.com for Sunday’s home match against SIU-Edwardsville.

Head Coach John Marovich: John Marovich is 8-3-1 in his first season overall and with Valpo after serving as an assistant for six years.  Just the third coach in program history, he has moved into a tie for second all-time in victories for the Crusaders with Ceyhun Ozgur.

Series Notes: Detroit holds a 3-1 series edge all-time against the Crusaders dating back to the 1993 campaign.  The Titans won the first three meetings between the two schools from 1993-1995 but the teams did not meet for 12 years prior to reuniting in Horizon League action in 2007.  Last year, Valpo recorded its first win against Detroit 2-0 at Eastgate Field.  The Titans won the only meeting ever played in Detroit 5-1 on October 11, 1994.  Valpo and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville are meeting for the first time ever on the pitch.

Wrapping Up Last Week’s Action: Wright State scored twice in the final 20 minutes on Wednesday to defeat Valpo, 2-0, at Eastgate Field.  The Crusaders bounced back on Friday as Jackie Thomas scored the match-winner with 1:18 remaining as Valpo beat Youngstown State 2-1.

Scouting Detroit: The Titans had their three-match winning streak snapped on Sunday with a 3-2 loss at home to Butler.  Selena Stanski leads the Titans in scoring with 10 points on the year, recording three goals and four assists.  Trina Kochanski has found the back of the net four times for eight points.  In goal, Joanna Hinde has a 1.60 goals against average and a .753 save percentage to go along with four shutouts.

Scouting SIU-Edwardsville: The Cougars have won four of their last five matches following a 1-0 victory in their home opener against Missouri-Saint Louis on October 1.  SIU-Edwardsville plays at Loyola on Friday before heading to Valpo Sunday.  Kiara Akpore leads the Cougars in scoring with three goals and six points on the season.  Kaci Backs has played a majority of the minutes in goal, sporting a 1.07 GAA and a .758 save percentage.  She has recorded three shutouts on the year.

Home Sweet Home: Valpo is 5-1 at Eastgate Field this season, continuing its recent success at home.  The five home victories are already tied for the third most in program history.  Since 2004, the Crusaders have posted a 29-9-1 (.756) record defending their home turf.

Thinking Pink: Valpo will be wearing pink jerseys on Sunday afternoon as part of the kickoff for Breast Cancer Awareness week with Crusader athletics.  The jerseys have been put up for sponsorship with the proceeds going to the Susan G. Koman for the Cure.

McGlone and Brown Move Up Assist List: Dana McGlone and Kendall Brown both recorded their 10th career assists in the win against Youngstown State on Friday, moving them both into a tie for second place on Valpo’s all-time list.

Stepping Up the Offense After Intermission: Valpo has scored just three goals in the first 45 minutes of matches, but has found the back of the net eight times in the second half and overtime on the year.

Thomas Has Match-Winner: Jackie Thomas’ match-winner against Youngstown State was the sixth of her career, moving her into a tie for fourth place on the Crusaders’ all-time list.

Cabral Moves Up Shutouts Chart: Mele Cabral now has eight career clean sheets, moving her past Amy Cavanaugh (1996-1999) for second all-time at Valpo.  Erin Murray (2004-2007) holds the school mark with 20 for a career.  Cabral’s six shutouts this season have also tied Murray’s 2004 and 2007 single season records.

Among the Nation’s Best: As a team, Valparaiso ranks 31st in the country with a 0.647 goals against average and 33rd in save percentage at .974.  The Crusaders are also 49th in shutout percentage at .500 and their .708 winning percentage is 49th best in all of Division I.  Individually, Mele Cabral is 37th with the .855 save mark and 32nd in goals against average with the 0.647 mark.

Valpo Picked Fifth in Preseason Poll: The Crusaders were selected to finish in a tie for fifth place in the Horizon League based on the preseason poll conducted of the league’s head coaches.  Milwaukee was picked to win the league.