Formerly a stalwart on the Valparaiso men’s soccer team back line, Andrew Stewart has signed a deal to continue playing soccer on the professional level, inking a contract in Scotland with reigning Scottish Junior Football North Premier League champions Banks o’ Dee F.C.

Stewart stepped right into a spot on the Crusader defense when he arrived on campus as a freshman, playing in 71 of Valpo’s 72 matches over his four-year career on the back line and making 68 starts.  Over the course of his career, he was part of three of the five stingiest defensive teams in program history in terms of goals allowed.  He also won the USASA U-23 National Championship with ELA Elite in between his junior and senior seasons.

Banks o’ Dee captured the North Superleague title for the 2008-2009 season, its second straight year earning the league crown.  Banks o’ Dee, which sits at 4-0-2 in the current Superleague season, also advanced to the final of the Aberdeenshire Shield in 2008-2009, its first-ever appearance in a Highland football league final.

Stewart had ties to Scotland through his father, Donald, who was originally from Glasgow and played for Arbroath F.C.  He becomes the second Crusader from last season’s senior class to sign to play professionally, following Oscar Lomeli, and is the 23rd player that head coach Mike Avery has coached that has gone on to play professional soccer.