Tuesday, October 30, 2007

            Valparaiso University had two players earn Second Team All-Horizon League honors and a third earn All-Newcomer Team accolades as the league announced its postseason women’s soccer awards.

            Jackie Thomas (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest H.S.) and Ani Michl (Deerfield, Ill./Stevenson H.S.) both were named to the league’s Second Team while Lynnea Pappas (Parma, Ohio/Holy Name H.S.) was the Crusaders’ representative on the All-Newcomer Team.

            Thomas, a defender, earned all-league honors for the third time in her career after being named to the Mid-Continent Conference’s First Team each of the last two seasons.  A junior, Thomas leads the Crusaders in scoring with nine points, with each of her four goals resulting in match-winners.

            Michl, a midfielder, follows up her Mid-Con All-Tournament Team accolades from last season with a Second Team effort in the Horizon League this year.  She scored twice for the Brown and Gold this year.

            Pappas had a solid freshman season for the Crusaders in the midfield.  She ranks fourth in the team in scoring this season, scoring two goals while tying for the team lead with three assists.

            Valparaiso (10-8, 4-4 Horizon) will be in action on Saturday afternoon as the Crusaders travel to Butler for the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament.  Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. with the action carried live on www.sportsjuice.com.