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10-9 Overall, 4-4 Horizon

This Year in Crusader Soccer:  Valparaiso wrapped up its inaugural season of Horizon League play in fifth place with a 4-4 league mark during the 2007 campaign.  The Crusaders finished over .500 for the fourth consecutive year, posting a 10-9 overall record.

On the Air: WVUR (95.1-FM, Valparaiso), the Valparaiso University campus radio station carried 11 live women’s soccer matches during the 2007 season.  In addition to airing the games around Valparaiso, they were also available online at www.valpo.edu/athletics.

Wrapping Up Horizon League Tournament Action: Competing in the Horizon League Championships for the first time, Valparaiso dropped its quarterfinal contest 2-0 at Butler on Saturday, November 3 in Indianapolis, Ind.  The Crusaders entered the tournament as the fifth seed.  The fourth-seeded Bulldogs jumped in front in the 36th minute on a goal by Lindsey Fox.  Fox then added an insurance tally with 27:18 to play in the match.  Erin Murray made a pair of saves in goal for the Crusaders while Annalise Larkin made four stops between the posts for Butler.

Thomas and Michl Earn Second Team Honors: Junior Jackie Thomas and sophomore Ani Michl each were named to the All-Horizon League Second Team for their play this season.  For Thomas, it is her third All-Conference selection, having been named First Team All Mid-Continent Conference the last two years.  She scored a team-leading four goals and added an assist on the season.  This is Michl’s first time being honored by a league.  Michl scored twice for the Brown and Gold from her midfield position.

Pappas Named to All-Newcomer Team: Lynnea Pappas was named to the Horizon League’s All-Newcomer Team for her play as a freshman.  She scored two goals and added three assists as a midfielder.

Thomas Earns Academic All-American and All-District Honors: Sophomore defender Jackie Thomas was  named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Third Team as well as the All-District V First Team as voted on by CoSIDA.  The public relations and sports management major has a 3.85 cumulative grade point average in addition to leading the Crusaders with four goals and nine points this season.

Win Total Among Best Ever: Valparaiso’s 10 victories on the season tied the Crusaders  for the third best win total in school history, matching the 2001 and 2004 teams.  The 2005 and 2006 squads hold the school record for victories as each won 12 matches.

Crusader Duo Earn Academic All-League Honors: Jackie Thomas and Ani Michl both were named to the Academic All-Horizon League Team for their efforts both on the field and in the classroom.  Thomas, a junior, earned Academic All-League honors for the third straight year after being a two-time member of the Mid-Continent Conference’s All-Academic Team.  Michl, a sophomore, also was on the Mid-Con All-Academic Team last season, and sports a perfect 4.00 grade point average.

Valpo Has Record-Tying Home Season: The Crusaders wrapped up the 2007 season at home tying the school record with seven wins at Eastgate Field.  Valpo also won seven home matches during the 2005 season when the Brown and Gold went 7-1.

Goals Against Average Second Best All-Time: Valparaiso finished the 2007 season recording a 0.99 goals against average, surrendering just 19 goals in more than 1,723 minutes of action.  The GAA is second best in school history, ranking only behind the 2006 team’s school record of 0.86.

Murray Sets Matches Played Record: With Erin Murray’s appearance between the posts for the Crusaders against Wright State in the regular season finale, she moved into sole possession of the top spot for matches played by a goalkeeper in Valpo history.  She passed Amy Cavanaugh (1996-1999) for the top spot with her 70th appearance.  The senior netminder finished her career having played in 71 total contests, including 69 starts.  Murray also set a new school record for minutes played between the posts, logging 6223:51 total in four years.

Murray Shatters Shutout Record: Erin Murray recorded her fifth and sixth shutouts this season against Youngstown State and Cleveland State, giving her 20 for her career.  Her school record is the most clean sheets for any Crusader, male or female, in school history.  The six shutouts this year are tied for the school’s single season record, matching her own total from 2004.

Thomas Makes Goals Count: Jackie Thomas led the Crusaders in scoring with four goals, all of which resulted in match-winners for Valpo.  Her four match-winners are tied with Lori Moore (2000 and 2001) and Lori Johnson (2006) for the most in a single season in Crusader history.  In addition, Thomas now has five career victors, tied for sixth all-time.

More Winners: Lori Johnson, Brittany Derksen, and Kendall Brown all have moved into a tie for third place on the career match-winning goals list with six each.

Among the Nation’s Best in Final Statistical Rankings: Valparaiso finished the 2007 season ranked in the top-100 in NCAA Division I in a pair of statistical categories at the conclusion of the season.  The Crusaders’ .421 shutout percentage ranked 79th in the nation while the 0.992 goals against average is 98th best among Division I schools.

Spreading the Wealth: Valpo had a balanced offensive attack in 2007, with not one player scoring more than four goals.  As a team the Crusaders tallied 22 goals, with 10 different players finding the scoresheet.

Five Among Scoring Elite: Valparaiso finished the 2007 season with five players among the top-10 in school history on the all-time goal scoring list.  Junior Kendall Brown has moved into a tie for third all-time with 18 goals while classmate Lori Johnson is alone in sixth place with 12 for her career.  Sophomore Sarah Jewell has moved into a tie for seventh on the scoring charts after posting goal number 11 earlier this season.  Brittany Derksen now has 10 career goals, moving into ninth place alone while Jackie Thomas is tied for tenth in school laurels with eight tallies.

Several Crusaders on All-Time Assist Charts: Kendall Brown and Dana McGlone have moved into a tie for seventh place on the all-time assist list at Valpo with eight career helpers.  Lori Johnson and Laura Murphy are all tied for ninth place with seven assists in their career.

Valpo Sets School Shutout Record: The Crusaders shutout eight opponents this season, setting the school’s single season record.  This year’s team passed the 2004 squad which had blanked six opponents. 

Murray Tops in GAA and Save Percentage: Erin Murray’s 1.19 goals against average for her career is best in Crusader history.  In addition, the senior has a .779 save percentage, also tops among anyone ever wearing the Brown and Gold.

Michl Scholar-Athlete of the Week: Ani Michl was named the U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athlete of the Week on October 2 for her efforts both on the field and in the classroom.  Michl had two goals against Indiana State for her on the field accolades and in the classroom was an All-Academic Team member in the Mid-Continent Conference last year.

Seniors Best Class Ever at Valpo: The six seniors that wrapped up their careers with the Crusaders have won 44 matches in four years, the most of any graduating class in Valpo soccer history.  They graduate having posted the only four winning seasons in the history of the women’s soccer program at Valparaiso.

Valpo Finishes Higher than Prediction: The Crusaders were selected to finish in sixth place in their inaugural season as members of the Horizon League according to the preseason poll conducted of the league’s head coaches.  However, Valparaiso exceeded expectations with their fifth place finish.

Lots Returning for Valpo in 2008: As Valpo moves into year two of Horizon League action, the Crusaders will return 17 players from this year’s squad.  The corps of returnees includes nine starters from this year’s squad.