The Valparaiso men’s soccer team continued its rise up the NSCAA regional rankings this week, as the best start in program history currently has the Crusaders ranked #7 in the Great Lakes region.

Valpo ascended to the seventh spot in the polling from the tenth position it occupied last week, moving past the likes of Notre Dame, Indiana and Northwestern in this week’s voting.  The Crusaders are now just one spot away from their all-time highest regional ranking of sixth, set during the 2006 season.

This year’s Crusader side has already set numerous program milestones, most notably posting the best start in team history at 5-0-1 entering Horizon League play this weekend.  Valpo’s six-match unbeaten streak matches the longest-such streak in program history, while dating back to last year, the Crusaders are an incredible 10-1-2 over their last 13 fixtures.  Most impressive have been the defensive numbers Valpo has posted this year, surrendering just one goal over the season’s first six games.

The Crusaders return to action on Friday evening at Brown Field with the second match of a three-game homestand, as they host Milwaukee at 7 p.m.