Thursday, July 07, 2011

Five Valparaiso men’s soccer players, including four who return to the Crusaders in 2011, are on the roster of the Carolina RailHawks U23 side which won the USASA Region III U23 Men’s Cup to advance to the USASA U23 Men’s National Championship, starting on July 15.

Fifth-year senior Stefan Antonijevic (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson [College of Lake County/Marquette]), graduated senior Adrian Ortiz (Berwyn, Ill./Morton West), fifth-year senior Brendan Roth (Elkhart, Ind./Memorial), junior Jonathon Smith (McKinney, Texas/McKinney) and redshirt junior Kyle Zobeck (Coralville, Iowa/Iowa City West) are all part of the RailHawks U23 squad, playing alongside numerous ACC players and other top collegiate talent.  In addition, former Valpo assistant coach Rick King serves as an assistant for the squad.

The quintet of Crusaders helped the RailHawks earn the USASA Region III U23 Men’s Cup in mid-June, as their squad out-scored the opposition 17-1 over four games, earning victories in all four fixtures.  Included in the regional championship was a 1-0 victory over defending regional champion Futsoc FC.  The RailHawks advance to the USASA U23 Men’s National Championship, where they will be one of four teams vying for the national title.