With a roster that features more newcomers than returning players, the Valparaiso University men’s soccer team will look to sustain its recent history of success in its first season of competition in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Crusaders have finished above .500 six of the last eight years and matched the program record with 10 victories a year ago. There’s no question a large, talented senior class was lost to graduation, but Valpo has continued to reload rather than rebuild and is poised to continue the winning tradition that has been in place since head coach Mike Avery took over the program.

“With this many new players, we’re doing a lot of teaching about how we play on the field and how we set the culture in the locker room,” Avery said. “It’s a challenge when guys graduate and you lose good players, but you have a chance to reshape a team and reinvent yourself while staying true to the core values of the program. We have enough talent in the room; there’s a lot of talent and a lot of depth.”

Goalkeepers

Nico Campbell, now playing professionally with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the United Soccer League, leaves big shoes to fill after finishing his Valpo career with 22 shutouts, one shy of a program record, and posting an 0.93 goals against average with 57 saves as a senior.

However, the Crusaders have a trio of talented goalkeepers in the mix this year, a group led by redshirt sophomore Nacho Miras (Udeba, Spain / Nuestra Semora del Pilar), who has been waiting in the wings behind Campbell the last two seasons. Miras got a taste of match action in 2016 and did not allow a goal in two appearances, which came against Ohio State and Eastern Illinois. He enjoyed a successful summer playing for North Carolina FC U23 in the Premier Development League.

Redshirt sophomore Dan Rosenfeld (Mexico City, Mexico / Colegio Tarbut) is also back in the mix at goalkeeper after missing the last two seasons due to injury. He has been cleared to play earlier than expected, providing the team with added depth and pushing Miras for the starting role.

Valpo’s third goalkeeper is junior Alex Richt (Manhattan, Kan. / Manhattan), a transfer from Graceland in Lamoni, Iowa.

“In my time here, we’ve always had a tremendous goalkeeper on the roster,” Avery said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had three at the same time as good as the three we have now. It’s the area on the roster where we feel the most confident in both what we have returning and what we’ve added.”

Defenders

The Crusaders will boast a new-look group of defenders this season. Senior Jacob Keck (Topeka, Kan. / Hayden Catholic) has been transitioned from midfield to center back. Redshirt sophomore Dylan Waugaman (Houston, Texas / Friendswood) will play in the back after transferring from Oregon State. John Doss (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) is back for his redshirt sophomore campaign after playing in eight games last season. Junior Matthew King (Edmonton, Alberta / Louis St. Laurent) will be a key piece of Valpo’s defense after playing his first two years at Grand Canyon. Redshirt sophomore Jake Pesek (St. Louis, Mo. / Chaminade) could play in the back some in addition to having a role in the midfield.

Cincinnati State transfer Alex Brown (MayPen, Jamaica / Glenmuir), freshman Junta Callahan (Okonawa, Japan / Kadena) and freshman Chavez Brooks-Robinson (Kingston, Jamaica / Wolmer’s Boys School) will compete for spots along the back line.

The Crusaders have enjoyed great defensive success over the last decade. Eight of the top nine defensive seasons in program history have come during Avery’s tenure.

“Our back four as a positional group and our block of eight as a unit is probably what we’ve spent the most time on in practice,” Avery said. “It’s going to be a little bit of a work in progress as all of these guys battle for spots and that group settles in. At the end of it all, it’s going to be a very good group. Our team is traditionally one of the stingiest teams in the country, and we anticipate that that’s going to continue.”

Midfielders

When it comes to the Crusader midfield in 2017, it all starts with MVC Preseason All-Conference selection Ramone Howell (Portmore, Jamaica / Jamaica College).

The senior scored three goals and notched two assists in 14 matches for Valpo last year and is the team’s only returning player who scored multiple goals in 2016. He totaled 33 shots, 14 of which were placed on goal. He also enjoyed a successful summer for the Des Moines Menace of the PDL.

“Ramone Howell is the key to that for us,” Avery said. “He’s had three great seasons, but has never finished a season without an injury. He looks strong; his body has changed. We have high hopes for what he can bring to the table. We’ve often moved Ramone around to accommodate other players – we played him wide last year because we had Isaiah Madrid. This year, we’re building the team around Ramone.”

Adan Garcia (Dallas, Texas / Episcopal School of Dallas) and Chris Villalobos (Richardson, Texas / J.J. Pearce) both return for their sophomore campaigns after seeing significant playing time as rookies. Michael Cushing (Orange, Calif. / Villa Park) will add depth after redshirting his freshman season.

“The midfield is our strongest core of returning players,” Avery said. “They’ve looked very good so far in training.”

The deep part of the midfield includes junior Demar Rose (Kingston, Jamaica / Wolmer’s Boys School) along with Cincinnati State transfer Akeem Bradford (Kingston, Jamaica / Campderdown) and multi-positional options like Keck and Pesek. Junior Cazenovia transfer Jordan Davis (London, England / Aldenharn) will add depth.

Rio de Janiero native and junior transfer Rafael Mentzingen will play on one wing, with freshman Jonas Engler (Illingen, Germany / Georg Kerschensteiner Scule) expected to play opposite Mentzingen. Other options include junior Jordan James (Hellshire, Jamaica / Wolmer’s Boys School), who played at Valpo in 2014 and 2015 before taking last year off at home in Jamaica. Freshman Brady Bell (Stilesville, Ind. / Cascade) brings with him high-level club experience, while Tyler Curylo (Palatine, Ill. / Palatine) is a junior college transfer from Heartland and Anton Nelson (George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Island / Shrewsbury [Engalnd] School) is back after redshirting his freshman year.

Forwards

The Crusaders are seeking a way to replace the likes of Matthew Gweh and Kendan Anderson. Gweh was a three-year fixture, while Anderson scored eight goals in just 12 games during his only season as a Crusader.

Those players will be replaced by committee, with redshirt sophomore Michael Marchionna (Naperville, Ill. / Naperville Central), Campbell transfer Tunji Osifeso, James and Garcia among the players who will see time up top.