Monday, June 06, 2011

Valparaiso will play nine regular season home matches and host an in-season tournament for the first time in program history as head coach John Marovich released the Crusaders’ 2011 women’s soccer schedule.

Valpo will play host to the Crusader Classic Sept. 23 and 25, welcoming Air Force, Campbell, and IUPUI to campus.  Friday night’s matches will be played on the turf at Brown Field as Valpo faces Campbell and IUPUI battles Air Force.  For Sunday’s contests, the action will shift to the grass at Eastgate Field with the Brown and Gold taking on Air Force and IUPUI meeting Campbell.

The Crusaders will open the regular season at home on Aug. 19 as Morehead State visits Valparaiso.  The homestand will then continue as IPFW and Evansville both visit before the Brown and Gold heads out on the road for the first time for a tournament at Liberty.  Valpo will face Coastal Carolina as well as the host Flames.

After facing IUPUI and Eastern Illinois on the road, Valpo will return to Eastgate Field on Sept. 16 to open Horizon League play against Green Bay.  The Crusaders will travel to Bowling Green two days later before hosting their own tournament.

After closing non-conference action in the Crusader Classic, Valpo will head to Loyola (Chicago) and Milwaukee to resume conference play before hosting Cleveland State.  Following a trip to Detroit, Valpo will return home for the final homestand, entertaining Butler and Wright State, the latter on Senior Day, Oct. 23.  The regular season will close Oct. 28 at Youngstown State before the top six teams advance to the Horizon League Tournament Nov. 1, 4, and 6.

Valpo will take the field for the first time Aug. 12 with an exhibition match at Western Michigan before hosting Kent State two days later to wrap up the preseason.