The Valparaiso woman's soccer team will finish off their spring season at home this Saturday, hosting Northwestern at Brown Field.  Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and will also kick off Alumni Weekend.

There will be a lunch in the locker room following the match for alumni with a kick around taking place around 6 p.m. Alumni Weekend is an important time for the team, as it allows former players the opportunity to come together and support the current squad and reconnect with former teammates.  Everyone looks forward to this event as stories and tall tales are told.

The Valpo woman's program has had both a physically, as well as mentally, challenging season this spring. The team started the next stage of power and explosive strength training in early January, so Saturday's match will be the culmination of all the hard work that has gone into the pre-season (spring season at Valpo is pre-season as the few weeks leading up to matches in the fall is a dress rehearsal). Spring season is a critical part of team development, and this year the players have not only been working hard to get into good physical shape, but the development of next season’s team identity has started to form which includes a strengthening of mental conditioning and style that best fits the players on field personality.

It has been a successful spring season thus far. Following a 9v9 event in February against Bowling Green which ended in a draw, the team put together some impressive attacking ideas, scoring three goals in two 70 minute matches against Western Michigan and Grand Valley State. The biggest win coming out of spring training was a victory over Indiana. Again playing on the road, the team managed to score four goals against the Hoosiers.

Most recently the team was in Northeast Ohio, playing two 90 minute matches. Following a 1-1 draw against Kent State, the squad put together a 2-0 win against Akron. Luisa Desario (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett H.S.) scored her fourth goal of the spring, and Tara Ellis (Portage, Ind./Portage H.S.) scored her second goal out of a corner kick situation. Maintaining the traditional tough defense the program is known for, Valpo did not give up a single shot on goal against Akron.

Along with the excitement of this Saturday's game, the Valparaiso woman's program is also proud to announce the sale NIKE team apparel for a limited time through an online form. Each item purchased will contribute to the general fundraising effort of the team, and is a great way to show your support of this year's squad. This offer online is only open until May 14, 2012.

Come on out Saturday and cheer the Crusaders on as they face another tough match. This final battle of the spring is a great opportunity to see the results of all the hard work that has been going on as the Crusaders get ready to start another exciting season in the fall of 2012.