Complete PDF Notes

Match #15: Friday, Oct. 17, 4 p.m. CDT
Loyola (Chicago) (9-8, 4-1 Horizon)
at Valpo (9-4-1, 1-3 Horizon)
Match #16: Sunday, Oct. 19, 12 p.m. CDT
Cleveland State (5-8-1, 0-3-1 Horizon)
at Valpo (9-4-1, 1-3 Horizon)

This Week in Crusader Soccer: Valpo wraps up the home portion of the 2008 regular season this weekend with a pair of key Horizon League tilts.  Friday the Crusaders entertain Loyola (Chicago) at Eastgate Field before hosting Cleveland State Sunday on Senior Day.

On the Air: Both the Loyola and Cleveland State matches will be broadcast live on WVUR (95.1-FM, Valparaiso) and online at www.valpoathletics.com.  Live stats will also be provided through www.valpoathletics.com for both matches as well.

Head Coach John Marovich: John Marovich is 9-4-1 in his first season overall and with Valpo after serving as an assistant for six years.  Just the third coach in program history, he has moved into second place all-time in victories for the Crusaders.

Series Notes: Loyola holds an 11-4 series advantage against the Crusaders dating back to the 1993 season.  The Ramblers are the only opponent Valpo has faced every season during the program’s existence.  Loyola has won six straight meetings, including a 3-0 victory in Chicago last season.  Loyola holds a 6-1 edge all-time in Valpo.  Valpo is 4-0 all-time against Cleveland State dating back to 2004, including a 2-0 mark at home.  Last year the Crusaders posted a 2-0 victory over the Vikings.

Wrapping Up Last Week’s Action: Kendall Brown scored in the first half, but Detroit answered with two second half tallies on the way to a 2-1 victory over Valpo on Friday in Detroit.  On Sunday, Jackie Thomas and Sarah Jewell both scored and Mele Cabral recorded a shutout in goal as the Crusaders downed Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 2-0 at home.

Scouting Loyola: The Ramblers enter the weekend tied for the top spot in the Horizon League, despite having their six-match winning streak snapped 1-0 at Butler on Sunday.  Cynthia Morote-Ariza leads Loyola with nine goals and 15 assists for 33 points while Jackie Vera and Laura Trevillian each have scored six times.  In goal, Katie Groesch has posted a 1.16 goals against average and a .753 save percentage.

Scouting Cleveland State: The Vikings are coming off of a 2-0 victory against IUPUI last Sunday and head to Green Bay this Friday before facing Valpo on Sunday.  Natalie Daniels leads the Viking offensive attack with three goals and three assists for nine points.  In goal, Kelly Zinkiewich has played the majority of the minutes and has a 1.90 goals against average and a .743 save percentage.

Home Sweet Home: Valpo is 6-1 at Eastgate Field this season, continuing its recent success at home.  The six home victories are the third most in program history, one shy of tying the school record.  Since 2004, the Crusaders have posted a 30-9-1 (.763) record at Eastgate Field.

Thanks Seniors: Valpo will honor its eight seniors prior to the match with Cleveland State.  Over the past four seasons, the Crusaders have posted a 43-25-5 record, won two Mid-Continent Conference regular season titles, and made one NCAA Tournament appearance.

McGlone Second All-Time in Assists: Dana McGlone moved into second place alone on Valpo’s all-time assist list with her 11th career helper against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.  She is just two assists shy of Lindsay Holley’s (2001-2004) school record of 13.

Thomas a Mainstay in the Lineup: Jackie Thomas enters the weekend having started all 71 matches that the Crusaders have played during her Valpo career.  With two starts this weekend at home, she will move into a tie for ninth all-time at Valpo for most career starts.

Scoring First Key to Valpo’s Success: Valpo is 8-1 this season when scoring the first goal of the match, but just 1-3 when surrendering the opening goal.

Cabral Sets Single Season Shutout Record: Mele Cabral broke the school’s single season shutout record with her seventh clean sheet of the season against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.  Her nine career shutouts rank second all-time in Valpo history.

Among the Nation’s Best: As a team, Valparaiso ranks 33rd in the country with a 0.70 goals against average and 39th in save percentage at .846.  The Crusaders are also 41st in shutout percentage at .500 and their .679 winning percentage is 63rd best in all of Division I.  Individually, Mele Cabral is 48th with the .844 save mark and 40th in goals against average with the 0.70 mark.

Valpo Picked Fifth in Preseason Poll: The Crusaders were selected to finish in a tie for fifth place in the Horizon League based on the preseason poll conducted of the league’s head coaches.  Milwaukee was picked to win the league.