Friday, November 08, 2002

Valparaiso University’s Courtney Budd (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West H.S.) and Lori Moore (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) have each been named to the Mid-Continent Conference First Team at the league’s annual banquet held Thursday evening in Tulsa, Okla.

Three other Crusaders, Cathy DeVito (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.), Emily King (Colona, Ill./United Township H.S.), and Kristen Templin (Madison, Wis./Middleton H.S.) were each named to the All Mid-Con Second Team.

Budd, a Second Team All-Conference selection last year, has been a mainstay in the Crusaders defense. The junior has started 17 matches for the Brown and Gold this season, and anchored a defense that allowed just four goals in conference matches.

Moore has been named to the All-Conference Team all four seasons at Valpo, and this year marks her third First Team appearance. The Crusaders all-time leading scorer, she has tallied a team-high eight goals and 18 points during the year.

DeVito is making her first appearance as an All-Conference member. The senior has anchored the Valpo defense since moving from forward early in the season. She has started all 18 matches this season, and helped lead the Brown and Gold to a second place finish in the conference tournament.

A rookie this season, King is tied for second on the Valpo squad in scoring. She has tallied three goals and added an assist during her freshman year, creating offense from the midfield.

The backstop for the Crusaders all season has been Templin. The junior posted four victories during conference play and tallied a pair of shutouts. She enters postseason play with a .736 save percentage.

Valpo will battle Oakland on Friday afternoon in the semifinals of the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament.