Thursday, May 17, 2007

Valparaiso's first women's soccer season as a member of the Horizon League will be highlighted by 10 home matches, the most for the Crusaders since 1998, as head coach Stephen Anthony has released his 2007 campaign.

The 10 home contests are tied for the second most ever in school history, with just the 1996 season's 11 home dates having more.

A three-match homestand opens the campaign, beginning on August 31 against Murray State. Illinois State and IPFW will also make visits to Eastgate Field during the opening homestand.

Valpo will take to the road for the first time on September 9, traveling to IUPUI before heading to Big Ten foe Purdue, an NCAA Tournament participant last season, three days later.

The Brown and Gold will also entertain Belmont, Northern Iowa, and Indiana State at home during non-conference action while traveling to California to battle Pacific and Saint Mary's (Calif.) before opening Horizon League play.

The Crusaders will kick off the eight-match Horizon League slate on September 30 against instate foe Butler. League foes Detroit, UW-Milwaukee, and UW-Green Bay will also pay visits to Eastgate Field during Valpo's inaugural season.

The regular season will wrap up on October 26 at Wright State before the Crusaders head to the Horizon League Championships, held on campus sites, from October 30-November 11. All nine member schools will compete in the league's premier event.

Valpo, the Mid-Continent Conference regular season champion in 2006, finished last year 12-4-3 overall and 4-0-2 in conference play. UW-Milwaukee is the defending Horizon League regular season champion while Loyola (Chicago) won the league tournament.

2007 Valparaiso Women's Soccer Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Aug. 21 Creighton (exhibition) 3 p.m.
Aug. 26 at Evansville (exhibition) 1 p.m.
Aug. 31 Murray State 4 p.m.
Sept. 2 Illinois State 1 p.m.
Sept. 7 IPFW 3 p.m.
Sept. 9 at IUPUI 12 p.m.
Sept. 12 at Purdue 3 p.m.
Sept. 14 Belmont 4 p.m.
Sept. 16 Northern Iowa 1 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Pacific 9 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Saint Mary's (Calif.) 2 p.m.
Sept. 28 Indiana State 4 p.m.
Sept. 30 Butler * 1 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Loyola (Chicago) * 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 Detroit * 4 p.m.
Oct. 12 UW-Milwaukee * 4 p.m.
Oct. 14 UW-Green Bay * 1 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Youngstown State * 3 p.m.
Oct. 21 at Cleveland State * 12 p.m.
Oct. 26 at Wright State * 3 p.m.
Oct. 30, Nov. 3, 9, 11 Horizon League Championships
(campus sites)
All Times Central.
Home Matches in Bold and Played at Eastgate Field unless noted.
* - Indicates Horizon League Match.