The Valparaiso women’s soccer team will look to defend its Horizon League championship in 2015 with the help of seven new additions, as Crusader head coach John Marovich announced Wednesday the program had inked seven players to National Letters of Intent.

Joining the Crusaders for the 2015 campaign are goalkeepers Tess Barrett and Drew Moulton, defenders Caitlyn Oliver and Eva Schneider, midfielders Kelsey Jahn and Ava Porlier, and forward Cory Griffith.

“My staff and I are very excited to add these seven outstanding young women to our soccer program,” said Marovich.  “We were able to add quality to every third of the field and depth to our goalkeeping position with this 2015 class.  Their competitive nature, commitment to development with high-level club teams and top-level character makes them wonderful additions to the family.  I would like to thank my staff and everyone at Valparaiso University for their work in assisting in putting this class together.  The excitement around our program after our championship season could light up the Chapel on campus, and this class is just another example of the continued growth of our soccer program.”

Tess Barrett – Providence Catholic (Ill.) H.S.

Barrett comes to Valpo having experienced success with both her prep and club teams.  Barrett earned the starting goalkeeper job at Providence Catholic as a freshman, helping the team capture the regional title and advance to the sectional finals.  She plays her club soccer for Chicago Inter, which won the MRL last season and finished third at the Disney Showcase.  Chicago Inter was ranked second in the state of Illinois, and 11th in the region.

"Tess is an athletic and technical goalkeeper," said Marovich.  "She has outstanding reflexes, explosion and great range in the goal mouth.  I like her presence and command of the box, and we’re excited about her ability to strengthen the keeper position."

Cory Griffith – Providence Catholic (Ill.) H.S.

Griffith did not play prep soccer, but has been a club teammate of Barrett's at Chicago Inter, helping the club to back-to-back MRL titles and a third-place finish at the Disney Showcase.  She has led her Chicago Inter team in goal scoring in each of the last four years as well.  A versatile athlete, Griffith was an All-Conference selection on the volleyball court for Providence Catholic and finished sixth at nationals with her volleyball club program in 2013. 

"Cory is a strong, competitive and dynamic front runner who can score goals," said Marovich.  "We are excited to add her to our attacking group because of her tremendous athletic ability, explosive attacking mentality and her risk-taking in the final third.  I loved going to watch her play and see what she was going to try next."

3 reasons Cory chose Valpo

-"I chose Valpo because it truly felt like home to me and was where I could see myself continuing my soccer career and education."

-"I loved the size of the school and the classes, and after spending time with the girls on the team and the coaches. it felt like exactly the right fit for me for the next four years of my life."

-"Valpo feels like the perfect place for me to continue to play the sport I love at the Division I level, while also taking my academics to their highest potential."

3 things Cory is excited about

"I am excited to join a team coming off an amazing season, being Horizon League Champions for the first time in the program's history, and hopefully being able to help them to a second Horizon League title.  I am excited to get a chance to play with Valpo's first ever All-American - Rita Craven.   After having spent time with the team on my official visit and getting a feel of average student life at Valpo, I am also excited to become a part of the family that is the Valparaiso Women's Soccer program and be a part of a close knit academic environment in my classes."

Kelsey Jahn- Oregon (Wis.) H.S.

Jahn was a Honorable Mention All-State honoree in 2013 and earned Best of the Rest All-State notice in 2014.  A two-time team MVP, Jahn was a three-time All-Area and three-time First Team All-Conference selection.  She also earned her team's Hustle Award three times and is entering her second year as team captain.  At the club level, Jahn captured an MRL title with her club team in 2013.

"We are looking forward to working with Kelsey because of her vision and creativity in the middle of the park," said Marovich.  "She makes passes with all services of the foot, which makes her a very deceptive midfielder.  Kelsey will fit in well with the style and system we play."

3 reasons Kelsey chose Valpo

-"I really liked the campus and could actually see myself going to school at Valpo."

-"The Nursing program is really good."

-"I chose Valpo as well because of the soccer team and the opportunity the program held for me. The girls were all really welcoming and a lot of fun."

3 things Kelsey is excited about

"I am excited to get to be in a new environment, to continue my soccer career at a higher level, and to meeting a bunch of new people and getting to know all the soccer girls."

Drew Moulton – Sycamore (Ill.) H.S.

Moulton was an All-Area and All-Conference selection for Sycamore H.S. last season.  A three-year member of the Illinois ODP state team, she helped that squad to the ODP national championship match in 2014.  As a member of Eclipse Select SC, she participated in the USYSA National League in both 2012 and 2013, with the team making an appearance in the semifinals of the USYA regional tournament in 2013.  She also helped the squad to back-to-back State Cup finals appearances.

"Drew has a dynamic personality that really captures everyone around her," said Marovich.  "Her personality allows her to be vocal in directing her back line.  I enjoyed watching her train and admire her work ethic to challenge herself.  Drew has an aggressive style and her extension dives give her great range in the box.  We’re excited to add Drew to our goalkeeping core, with her experience with PAWS and Eclipse Select."

3 reasons Drew chose Valpo

-"I chose Valpo because I love the program and department I'm going into, as well as the professors."

-"The campus feels like home."

-"The team atmosphere was incredible."

3 things Drew is excited about

"I am excited to be a part of such an incredible team, to get an amazing education, and to have this opportunity of a lifetime."

Caitlyn Oliver - Walled Lake Northern (Mich.) H.S.

Oliver helped lead Walled Lake Northern H.S. to as they captured a division championship, earning All-District and All-Conference accolades along the way.  Playing her club soccer for Michigan Jaguars, she has been a part of two Premier MRL championship sides and has twice advanced to the semifinals of the Region 2 Regional Cup.  She has helped the Jaguars twice earn state championships and advance to the national league twice as well.

"Caitlyn is a very steady defender with great experiences at the club level with the Michigan Jaguars," said Marovich.  "She reads the game well and is a quiet destroyer in a back line.  She does her job well, so at the end of the day, I just wanted to have someone of this quality in our program.  I am excited to bring her into our defensive philosophy while expanding her performance with our group."

3 reasons Caitlyn chose Valpo

-"Valpo is very good academically and has the program that I want."

-"I met the team when I visited and they were all very nice and the type of people I want to be surrounded by."

-"I like the campus and can see it being my new home."

3 things Caitlyn is excited about

"I am excited to get to know new people such as the team and my future classmates,  to have new experiences and get the chance to play soccer for four more years.  This year, Valpo won the league, so I'm excited to see what we can do next year and beyond."

Ava Porlier – Downers Grove South (Ill.) H.S.

Porlier has been a four-year player for Downers Grove South, earning All-Area accolades last season and twice picking up All-Conference recognition.  In 2012, she helped Downers Grove South to a third-place finish in the IHSA class 3A state tournament.  Porlier was teammates at the Chicago Inter club with Barrett and Griffith, helping that squad to the MRL title in 2014 and a third-place finish at the Disney Showcase.

"Ava brings a fantastic mentality to the holding midfield position," said Marovich.  "She is a hard-working, strong ball winner who can make connecting passes.  She is a competitor who will be effective in possession and bring an attacking presence in the box.  We are looking forward to the toughness that she will bring to training and games."

3 reasons Ava chose Valpo

-"I chose Valpo for the great soccer program."

-"The school has great academics."

-"The team was very welcoming and nice."

3 things Ava is excited for

-"I am excited for soccer season, the chance to get a college education and the opportunity to meet new people."

Eva Schneider – Rocky River (Ohio) H.S.

Schneider was a four-year starter for Rocky River H.S., helping lead the Pirates to an unbeaten record and an OHSAA state title in 2013 as a junior.  A Second Team All-District honoree as a senior, Schneider twice earned All-Conference honors as well, helping Rocky River to four sectional and three district titles.  Playing club for Cleveland FC, Schneider was a part of the State Cup champion team in 2014, as well as a State Cup finalist in 2012 and semifinalist in 2011.  She was a member of the USYSA Regional Cup semifinalist team in 2013 as well, and was a three-year player for the Ohio North ODP team.  In addition, Schneider was named to the Class of 2015 Girls IMG Academy 150 Players Poll in September of 2013.

"Eva is an outstanding young defensive talent," said Marovich.  "We are excited about her addition and developing her in our defensive philosophy.  Eva reads the game well and plays with a lot of composure in all situations.  She can play as a central or outside back, which gives us great flexibility along the back line."

3 reasons Eva chose Valpo

-"I loved the enthusiasm of Coach Marovich, he made me feel welcome and wanted."

-"I love the campus - it makes it feel like a home away from home."

-"The team appears to be competitive and has the drive to do whatever it takes to win, which is what I want to be a part of."

3 things Eva is excited for

-"I am excited to start playing at the next level, to have the opportunity to live on my own and make my own decisions, and to make new friends that I will be with for the next four years of my life."