Valparaiso freshman defender Grace Rogers (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) has been named the Horizon League co-Defensive Player of the Week.  Rogers becomes the third different Crusader to earn the league’s weekly award this season.

Rogers came in off the bench in the Crusaders’ mid-week win at UIC, playing 39 minutes on the back line.  Valpo surrendered just one shot on goal during Rogers’ time in the game.  Then, against Youngstown State, the rookie went the distance, playing all 99 minutes in the back as part of a defense which gave up just five total shots and just one effort on goal.  Rogers then came up into the box for a free kick in the 100^th minute and headed in the golden goal – her first career goal – to give the Crusaders the 1-0 win and keep Valpo undefeated in league play.

Rogers has appeared in all 13 games on defense for the Crusaders this season, starting ten times, and has been a key part of a defensive unit which has surrendered just six goals in 13 fixtures.  Rogers and the rest of the Crusaders return to the field Saturday afternoon at Wright State for a 1 p.m. CT kickoff.