Crusaders Release 2008 Men's Soccer Schedule

Four games against 2007 College Cup participants, including two against teams that reached the Elite Eight, highlight the 2008 Valparaiso men’s soccer schedule, as released today by Crusader head coach Mike Avery.

Crusader Men's Soccer Adds Another 2008 Signee

Valparaiso men’s soccer head coach Mike Avery announced today that Jose Renato Pecego, a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has signed a National Letter of Intent and will suit up for the Crusaders beginning in 2008.  Pecego is the tenth member of Valpo’s incoming 2008 class, which is now comprised of seven freshmen and three juniors.

Men's Soccer Team Adds Two More Newcomers

Valparaiso men’s soccer head coach Mike Avery announced today the addition of two recruits that will join the Crusaders for the 2008 soccer season.  Israel Bisoni (Senador Amaral, Brazil) and Rodolfo Lucas (Mogi Mirim, Brazil) each spent the last two seasons as teammates at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas, and will transfer to the Crusaders as juniors with two years of eligibility remaining.  The duo joins the seven previously announced newcomers to the 2008 Crusader squad.

Seven Players to Join Crusader Soccer Team in 2008

Valparaiso head men’s soccer coach Mike Avery announced today that seven players will join the Crusader program for the 2008 season.

Valpo Men's Soccer to Hold Two VIP Camp Sessions

Valparaiso University head men’s soccer coach Mike Avery announced today the dates for the 2008 Valparaiso Identification Program (VIP) soccer camp.  The 2008 VIP, held on the campus of Valparaiso University, is a soccer camp for high school age players with serious aspirations to play college soccer.  Session I will be held from June 16-18, with Session II scheduled from July 21-23.

2007 Valpo Men's Soccer Year in Review

With 22 newcomers on the 32-man roster for first-year head coach Mike Avery, the Valparaiso University men's soccer team started a turnaround in the program, enjoying one of the finest defensive seasons in school history.

Schwarz, Shively Earn Academic All-League Honors

Sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Schwarz (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) and sophomore forward Steve Shively (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) have been named to the 11-player Academic All-Horizon League Men's Soccer Team, as voted upon by the league's faculty athletic representatives and sports information directors.

Valpo Honored by NSCAA for Men's and Women's Academic Award

 Valparaiso University’s men’s and women’s soccer teams have both been named a recipient of the NCSAA/adidas Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Crusaders' Season Ends at Wright State

Valparaiso found itself down two goals early, and while the Crusaders cut the deficit to one goal early in the second half, they could not complete the comeback, as Wright State defeated Valpo 2-1 Friday evening in Dayton, Ohio in the first round of the Horizon League Championship.

Crusaders Hit Road for Debut in Horizon League Championship

Valparaiso kicks off its first-ever Horizon League Championship this weekend, traveling to Wright State to take on the Raiders Friday evening at 6 p.m. CST.  With a win, the Crusaders would advance to the quarterfinals and a matchup at UIC, which would take place Sunday night at 7 p.m.

Schwarz Named Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year; Lomeli Earns Second Team, All-Newcomer Honors

Valparaiso sophomore Ryan Schwarz (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) was named the 2007 Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year, while junior Oscar Lomeli (Jalisco, Mexico/ [Bethel]) joined Schwarz on the All-League Second Team and earned All-Newcomer Team honors as the league office announced the postseason awards today.

Valpo to Play at Wright State in First Round of Horizon League Championship

Valparaiso has earned the seventh seed for the 2007 Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship, presented by the U.S. Army, and will travel to Dayton, Ohio to take on sixth-seeded Wright State in a first-round matchup Friday evening at 6 p.m. CST.

Crusaders Close Out Regular Season With Victory

Oscar Lomeli (Jalisco, Mexico/ [Bethel (Ind.)]) scored his second goal of the season early in the second half, while Ryan Schwarz (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) made two stops for his second shutout of the season as Valparaiso sent seniors Sean McGinnis (Chicago, Ill./Barrington) and Tyler Pagano (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein [UMass]) out winners one last time at Eastgate Field, downing Cleveland State 1-0.

Crusaders Drop Double-Overtime Decision at UIC

Valparaiso played scoreless soccer with UIC Wednesday night in Chicago, Ill. into a second overtime session, but the Flames pushed the match’s only tally across the goal line with under four minutes to play to win, 1-0.

Crusaders Close Out Regular Season with Two League Games

The Valparaiso men's soccer team closes out its first regular season as a member of the Horizon League with two league matchups this week.  The Crusaders will travel to UIC on Wednesday before hosting Cleveland State two days later.  Valpo seniors Sean McGinnis and Tyler Pagano will be honored at halftime of their final match at Eastgate Field on Friday.

Crusaders Drop Heartbreaker at Wright State

Neither Valparaiso nor Wright State could dent the scoreboard for the first 109 minutes of action Sunday afternoon in Dayton, Ohio, but the Raiders found the back of the net with just 22 seconds remaining in the second overtime period to win the game, 1-0.  The Crusaders were forced to play the final 50 minutes of the game a man down.

Crusaders Kick Off Second HL Swing at Wright State

Valparaiso kicks off its final stretch of Horizon League play on Sunday, traveling to Wright State to take on the Raiders for Valpo's first League match in 25 days.  The Crusaders are coming off of a 1-1 draw with #19/17 Michigan State last Sunday.

Crusaders Fight Back to Tie #19/17 Michigan State

Valparaiso returned to Eastgate Field for the first time in nearly a month Sunday afternoon and gave the crowd of 488 fans an exciting match, coming back from an early deficit to force a 1-1 (2ot) draw with #19/17 Michigan State.

Crusaders Return to the Pitch With Showdown Against Nationally-Ranked Spartans

Valparaiso returns to the pitch after a 12-day layoff with a stern test, as the Crusaders host #19/17 Michigan State at Eastgate Field Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Crusaders Drop Non-Conference Matchup

Valparaiso came back from a one-goal halftime deficit to knot up the match midway through the second half, but Western Michigan eventually came out on top, 2-1, Tuesday afternoon in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Valpo Falls at Eastern Illinois

Eastern Illinois scored three times in the first half on its way to a 4-0 victory over Valparaiso Sunday afternoon in Charleston, Ill.

Valpo Triumphs at Detroit, 1-0

Valparaiso earned its first victory in Horizon League play Wednesday afternoon at Detroit, defeating the Titans, 1-0.  The win gives the Crusaders five points in League action through five matches.

Men's Soccer to Close Out First Stretch of Horizon League Play

Valparaiso concludes its first stretch of play against Horizon League opponents with a game at Detroit Wednesday and follows with a non-conference tilt at Eastern Illinois on Sunday.

Crusaders Earn Point on Road Against Milwaukee

Valparaiso earned its second tie of the Horizon League slate Friday evening at Milwaukee, coming from behind to force a 1-1 (2ot) draw against the Panthers.

Crusaders Surrender Late Goal in 1-0 Loss to Green Bay

The Valparaiso defense held Green Bay at bay for over 80 minutes Wednesday afternoon at Eastgate Field in Horizon League action, but the Phoenix pushed across a goal in the 81^st minute and held on to defeat the Crusaders, 1-0.

Horizon League Play Continues for Crusader Men's Soccer

The Valparaiso men's soccer team continues Horizon League play this week, taking on the League's two representatives from Wisconsin.  The Crusaders will host Green Bay at Eastgate Field on Wednesday afternoon before traveling to Milwaukee for a Saturday evening matchup.

Crusaders Fall in Horizon League Home Opener

The Valparaiso men’s soccer team hosted its first-ever home Horizon League contest at Eastgate Field on Sunday afternoon, but could not earn the victory, as rival Butler came in and defeated the Crusaders, 4-1.

Crusaders Down Leathernecks

Valparaiso closed out a four-match road trip Friday afternoon in Macomb, Ill. with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Western Illinois, thanks to Steve Shively’s (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) fifth career match-winning goal.

Crusaders Conclude Road Trip, Start Home League Play

Valparaiso ends its four-game road trip on Friday afternoon at Western Illinois before returning home for the start of a brief two-game homestand on Sunday afternoon against Butler.

Crusaders Tie Loyola in Horizon League Opener

Crusaders Drop 1-0 Decision at DePaul

Crusader Men's Soccer Set to Kick Off Horizon League Play

The Valparaiso men's soccer team continues the middle portion of a four-match road trip this weekend.  The Crusaders will take on DePaul Friday afternoon before making history Sunday afternoon, taking on Loyola at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.  The meeting with the Ramblers constitutes the first-ever Horizon League contest in any sport by a Valpo team.

Evansville Defeats Valpo, 4-0

Valparaiso played Evansville to a scoreless tie in the first half of action Sunday in Evansville, Ind., but the Purple Aces exploded for four second-half goals to down the Crusaders, 4-0.

Valpo Shuts Out IPFW 3-0 to Earn Season's First Victory

Three goals in the first 37 minutes of the match proved to be all the offense Valparaiso would need on Friday evening at Eastgate Field as the Crusaders defeated IPFW 3-0 to pick up their first victory of the 2007 season.

Men's Soccer to Host IPFW, Travel to Evansville

The Valparaiso men's soccer team continues pre-conference play this weekend, opening up the home season at Eastgate Field against IPFW on Friday before travelling to Evansville on Sunday.

Valpo Drops Tight Battle At #4/3 Duke

Valparaiso’s men’s soccer team went toe-to-toe with one of the nation’s best teams Sunday evening in Durham, N.C., playing scoreless soccer with #4/3 Duke into the second half.  But the Blue Devils pushed a goal across in the 69^th minute and eventually went on to down the Crusaders by a 2-0 decision.

Crusaders Fall 2-1 to N.C. State in Season Opener

The Valparaiso men’s soccer team went into the half tied 1-1 with ACC foe North Carolina State Friday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C., but eventually fell, 2-1, to the Wolfpack in the first match of the Wolfpack Classic.

Crusader Men's Soccer Squad Set to Kick Off Season

The Valparaiso men's soccer team kicks off a new era this weekend, as it will take the pitch for the first time in the regular season under new head coach Mike Avery.  The Crusaders' first two matches will be challenges, as they travel to North Carolina to take on ACC opponents North Carolina State and #4/3 Duke at the Wolfpack Classic.

Crusader Exhibition at Goshen Cancelled

Due to a violation of team policies over the weekend, Valparaiso men’s soccer coach Mike Avery has decided to cancel tonight’s exhibition match at Goshen.  The match will not be made up.

Crusaders Fall to Western Kentucky in Exhibition Action

The Valparaiso men’s soccer team came out on the wrong end of a hard-fought 1-0 decision Saturday afternoon against Western Kentucky.  The game, the second of three exhibition matchups for the Crusaders, was played at nearby Portage H.S.

Crusader Exhibition Moved to Portage H.S.

New-Look Crusaders Ready for 2007 Campaign

A new league.  A new coaching staff.  Twenty-two newcomers on the 32-man roster.  Even new-look uniforms.  The 2007 Valparaiso men’s soccer squad is hoping that all of these new parts come together to start a new tradition: one of winning in the Horizon League.

Crusader Men Tabbed Ninth in Horizon League Poll

The Valparaiso University men’s soccer team has been picked to finish ninth in its inaugural season of Horizon League play, as announced by the League office today.  

Crusaders Tie Indianapolis in Exhibition Opener

Valpo-Indianapolis Exhibition Moved to 6:30 CDT

Valparaiso's first exhibition match on Friday evening at Indianapolis has been moved to 6:30 p.m. CDT (7:30 p.m. EDT).  The contest is the first of three exhibition contests the Crusaders are slated to play this season.

King Named Crusader Assistant Coach

Valparaiso men’s soccer coach Mike Avery announced today that Rick King has been hired as an assistant coach for the Crusader program.  King comes to Valpo after spending the 2006 season as a volunteer assistant at Notre Dame, where he helped guide the Fighting Irish to the Elite 8 of the NCAA College Cup.