Entering its 25th year of intercollegiate competition, the Valparaiso University women’s soccer program has a long history of success. The Crusaders earned Mid-Continent Conference and Horizon League championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament out of both conferences.

Now, Valpo faces a new challenge this year, as it joins the Missouri Valley Conference. The Crusaders enter the new conference with a large group of experienced players along with a talented crew of newcomers, a recipe which affords head coach John Marovich and his staff plenty of options for personnel and tactics as they look to make their mark in The Valley.

Goalkeepers

Valpo returns two of its three keepers from last year’s squad, accounting for over 80% of the minutes in goal in 2016.

Tess Barrett saw the majority of playing time last year in goal in her first season of action, posting a 7-7-0 record with a 1.17 GAA. Barrett ranked third in the league in GAA and surrendered one goal or fewer in seven of her eight starts within the Horizon League.

Drew Moulton made a pair of appearances in 2016 as a sophomore after starting four times as a freshman, earning a victory against perennial Horizon League power Milwaukee. Freshman Kezia Gesell joins the goalkeepers group this year as a freshman, coming to Valpo following a strong prep career in Winnipeg.

Defenders

Perhaps the Crusaders’ strongest returning corps of players comes in the form of their back line, as six different players in the back started at least seven matches last season.

Seniors Sydney Gountounas and Grace Rogers will be looked to for leadership in the back. Gountounas did not come off the field in any of her 13 starts last season and has started 30 times over the past two years, while Rogers has made 24 career starts – 13 of which came last year. Rogers also has proved helpful in the attack as well, tying for second on the team last season with four assists.

Sophomore Ali Quillen was one of two Crusaders to start all 19 matches in 2016 and led the team in minutes played, earning a spot on the Horizon League All-Freshman Team. In her first season on the field, Natalia Kontul started 12 times in the back, while sophomore Shannon Carr made 11 starts on defense as a rookie.

Junior Caitlyn Oliver was also a part-time starter in 2016 and has made 20 total starts in her first two years with the Crusaders. Also providing depth in the back line for Valpo are junior Eva Schneider, sophomore Lilly Jackson and freshman Lauren Torhorst, who comes to the Crusaders after twice earning Honorable Mention All-State honors in Wisconsin.

Midfielders

A large group of players are in contention to help the Crusaders try to control the middle of the park in 2017.

Leading the way is junior Kelsey Jahn, who started all but one match last year for Valpo – playing the second-most minutes on the team – and was an All-Freshman Team selection as a rookie in 2015. Sophomore Adi Johnson and junior Ava Porlier were both part-time starters a season ago and will be called upon to fill bigger roles this season, while senior Jordon Tindell is in the mix as well.

A number of sophomores who played sparingly last season as freshmen could see increased opportunities in 2017: Maria Broecker, Julia Lehnen and Savannah Smith. Broecker made the biggest impact of the group last season, scoring a pair of goals in the Crusaders’ Horizon League tournament game at Oakland.

Five newcomers will look to fill the midfield spots as well this year. Olivia Janke, who was a Second Team All-State selection out of Michigan in high school, looks for her first career action in 2017 after not playing last season. Freshman Keegan Maris – an All-State choice out of Illinois – earned a starting assignment in the midfield in the Crusaders’ exhibition victory. Lauren Yoder, Kiera Pratt and Riana Gesell – twin sister of Kezia – will also try to make an impact on the Crusaders as rookies.

Forwards

Heading the Crusaders’ charge at goal this year is a preseason All-Conference selection in junior Cory Griffith. Griffith will be called upon to lead the way after serving as Valpo’s number two threat on the attack last year next to graduated senior April Cronin. Griffith tallied seven goals and three assists on her way to being a Second Team All-Horizon League choice, including five match-winning goals to set a new program single-season record.

Sophomore Tahelah Noel could make the move into a starting role this season after coming off the bench for the most part as a freshman last year. Meanwhile, transfer Sydney Griffin joins the Crusaders after two years at New Hampshire, where she started 22 times and scored a pair of goals last year as a sophomore.

Senior Lily Chetosky saw 35 minutes of action up top in the Crusaders’ exhibition win over Morehead State in her first competitive action in nearly two full calendar years. Anna Eksten joins the Crusader program this year after spending her first year of college playing basketball at Carthage, while freshman Bosa Woldt rounds out the group of forwards.