Friday, October 28, 2011

Saturday night's men's soccer game against UIC will be a benefit match, as the Crusaders raise money for 2010 Valparaiso graduate and former men's soccer player Rodolfo 'Rudy' Lucas, who suffered a debilitating stroke this past summer.

The team will be selling t-shirts at the game that bear the #10 as well as the word “Forca”, which means “strength” in Lucas’ native Portuguese language.  They will be selling the t-shirts for a $20 minimum donation, with all proceeds going to Rudy, who has returned to Brazil, and his family to help try to offset the costs incurred with his medical care.  If shirts run out at the game, the preferred size is out of stock or fans can’t make it to the game, they can contact assistant coach Jeff Oleck at Jeff.Oleck@valpo.edu through November 11 to place an order.

Lucas played two seasons for the Crusaders and earned Horizon League All-Newcomer Team honors in 2008 after registering a goal and two assists.  In his senior season, Lucas tallied three assists and helped anchor a back line for the Crusader side which still holds the school record for wins in a single season.