A trio of headers accounted for all the scoring on Sunday morning at Eastgate Field, as the Valparaiso women's soccer team rolled to a 3-0 victory over Saint Joseph's (Ind.) in its final exhibition game prior to the start of the regular season.
The Crusaders had little trouble dispatching their opponent on Sunday, out-shooting the Pumas by a 27-1 count. Valpo also totaled nine corner kicks to just one for St. Joe's. The Crusaders also got plenty of work for their entire roster, as all 25 players played at least 15 minutes, while no field player was on for more than 66 minutes.
Valpo pressured early and often, registering four shots in the first nine minutes, one of which hit the post as the Crusaders looked to take the lead. Finally, in the 16th minute, Valpo broke through. Senior Kristen Warner (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard South) sent a cross from the right to the left side of the six-yard box, where junior Sarrah Ludwig (Downers Grove, Ill./South) was waiting to head it inside the far post to give the Crusaders the 1-0 lead.
Valpo's second goal set up similarly in the 32nd minute. Warner sent in a cross, this time from the left, to the head of sophomore Robin Wenzel (Woodstock, Ill./Marian Central Catholic), who sent her header far post to make it 2-0 Crusaders. Then, in the 80th minute, freshman Jordon Tindell (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) nodded in a header from the center of the box off a pass from the right from redshirt freshman Vanesa Abad (Barrington, Ill./Lake Zurich [Ohio State]) to cap the scoring.
Valparaiso opens the regular season Friday evening at Brown Field against Belmont, with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m.