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Homer Drew Region

Jessica Richardson (women’s cross country) at Horizon League Championship – Nov. 1, 2014

- Competing in the final league championship meet of her career, senior Jessica Richardson ran the second-fastest 6K of her career to earn her best-ever placement at the Horizon League Championship. Richardson covered the 6K course in 21:28 to finish in third place, her fifth top-10 finish of the season. She earned First Team All-League honors for the third-place showing, the third consecutive year Richardson received the First Team All-League award.

Taylor Nadler’s (softball) on-base streak – May 2-6, 2015

- The streak started innocuously enough, as freshman Taylor Nadler knocked a single back through the middle in the first inning of the opener May 2 against Youngstown State. But in the highest-leverage games of the year – a twinbill versus YSU in which the Crusaders needed one win to secure a spot in the HL Championship, and the tournament opener four days later against Wright State – Nadler stepped up big time, reaching base in 10 consecutive plate appearances, a mark which is tied for eighth-best in NCAA history. Nadler went 7-for-7 with three walks during the stretch, while eight of her times reaching base came during innings where Valpo scored runs.

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Emory G. Bauer Region

Sarah Drozdowski (women’s track and field) at Horizon League Outdoor Championship – May 1-3, 2015

- After redshirting during the outdoor season in 2014 and spending an entire year gearing up for the 2015 outdoor campaign, fifth-year senior Sarah Drozdowski went out with a bang at her final league championship meet. Competing in four throwing events, Drozdowski earned a trio of top-three finishes, as she won the hammer throw, finished second in the shot put and placed third in the javelin throw. Drozdowski was named the Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet and then was also honored as the overall outdoor Female Athlete of the Year – Valpo’s first-such honoree since joining the league.

Women’s soccer Horizon League Championship win over Detroit – Nov. 8, 2014

- With so many great accomplishments in the books from the 2014 campaign, the Crusader women’s soccer team still needed a win in the Horizon League title match to reach the ultimate goal – the NCAA Tournament. And Valpo did it in style, as tournament MVP April Cronin found the back of the net in the 84th minute at Brown Field for the match-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Detroit for the tournament championship. The Crusader defense, which led the way all season long, was at its best, surrendering just two shots to the Titans as Valpo extended its school-record winning streak to 12 matches and earned its 12th clean sheet of the year.

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Dr. Bill Steinbrecher Region

Men’s soccer win at #7 Michigan State – Sept. 11, 2014

- They say lightning never strikes twice, but it did in this case for the Crusader men’s soccer team. Just over one year after knocking off the 24th-ranked Spartans, Valpo returned to East Lansing and did it again, as a goal from Omar Lawrence in the 58th minute stood up for a 1-0 win over #7 Michigan State. Nico Campbell earned the shutout in goal for the Crusaders. The win was the first victory against a top-10 side in program history.

Men’s basketball Horizon League Championship win vs. Green Bay – Mar. 10, 2015

- Down by 10 with two minutes to go in the first half, playing without one starting guard, and losing another with injury for a stretch during the opening period.  Given opportunities where it could have folded, the Valparaiso men’s basketball team did what it had done all season long – stepped up to the challenge. The Crusaders scored the final two baskets of the first half and then dominated the second half, outscoring Green Bay 35-19 to earn a 54-44 victory and claim the 2015 Horizon League Championship.  A driving layup by E. Victor Nickerson with the shot clock winding down and 1:02 to play proved to be the dagger, while David Skara led the way with 12 points off the bench.

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Rod Moore Region

Women’s soccer win vs. Detroit – Oct. 25, 2014

- 52 seconds. That was all the time it would take for senior Abby Kenyon to make an impact off the bench in one of the biggest wins in Valpo women’s soccer history. Kenyon entered in the 69th minute and, less than one minute later, delivered a flip throw-in that was headed in by Sarrah Ludwig for the lone goal in the Crusaders’ 1-0 regular season win over Detroit – a victory which ensured Valpo its first Horizon League regular season title. The win was the ninth straight for the Crusaders, setting a new program record, and was also the penultimate victory in a perfect 8-0-0 Horizon League slate.

Men’s tennis win against Cleveland State in the Horizon League semifinals – Apr. 25, 2015

- One year after earning its first-ever win in the main draw of the Horizon League Championship, the Crusader men’s tennis team took it one step further this season, advancing to the league title match for the first time in program history with a 4-1 win over Cleveland State in the semifinals. Wins by Jeffrey Schorsch/Charlie Emhardt and Lucas Waak/Garrett Gardner secured the doubles point, and Schorsch and Emhardt quickly dispatched their singles opponents in straight sets to move Valpo within one point of the win. Dave Bacalla, who earned the clinching point in last season’s win in the tournament, again finished out a milestone win for the Crusaders, earning a three-set victory at no. 2 singles for the clincher.