Ten home matches highlight the 2013 schedule for the Valparaiso women's soccer program, as released today by head coach John Marovich.

Playing all of their home matches at Brown Field for the first time in program history, the Crusaders will open the regular season with three consecutive home matches.  Valpo kicks off action against DePaul on Friday, Aug. 23 and welcomes Miami (Ohio), which advanced to the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, to Brown Field two days later.  The three-match homestand concludes Aug. 30 against Grand Canyon, which will be in its first season of competition as a Division I program.

The opening homestand kicks off a slate of seven non-league home matches, as the Crusaders will also host Northwestern (Sept. 5), IPFW (Sept. 8), Western Illinois (Sept. 20) and Eastern Illinois (Sept. 22) outside of league play.  Meanwhile, Valpo hits the road to take on Kent State (Sept. 1), IUPUI (Sept. 13) and Evansville (Sept. 15) prior to the start of the league schedule.

The Horizon League slate starts out on the road on Sept. 28, as the Crusaders travel to face defending league champion Milwaukee.  Valpo will also play on the road at league newcomer Oakland, which won a game in the NCAA Tournament last season, on Oct. 9, and also has league road trips to Youngstown State (Oct. 19) and Detroit (Oct. 26).  The Crusaders will host Cleveland State (Oct. 5), Wright State (Oct. 12) and Green Bay (Nov. 1) within league play.  The Horizon League Championship runs Nov. 5-10, with the winner earning the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Prior to the start of the regular season, the Crusaders will play a pair of exhibition matches, traveling to Northern Illinois (Aug. 16) and Loyola (Aug. 18) to tune up for the 2013 campaign.