Valparaiso (0-1-3, 0-0-0 Horizon)

Non-league play continues with two more matches for the Crusaders

Friday, Sept. 5 – 7:30 p.m. – Brown Field – Ball State (2-1-1)

Sunday, Sept. 7 – 3:30 p.m.  – Macomb, Ill. – at Western Illinois (1-3-0)

This Week in Crusader Soccer: Coming off of three consecutive draws, the Valparaiso women’s soccer team looks to earn its first victory of the season this weekend.  The Crusaders return home for their third home game of the season Friday night, hosting Ball State, before traveling to Western Illinois for a Sunday afternoon match.

Previously: 220 minutes of soccer last weekend resulted in a pair of ties for the Crusaders in their trip to Arizona.  Valpo drew with Grand Canyon, 1-1, as it received the first collegiate goal from redshirt freshman Vanesa Abad.  The Crusaders then fought to a scoreless draw with Northern Arizona, with Sydney Galvez-Daley earning her second shutout of the year.

Following the Crusaders:  Links for live stats for both of this weekend’s matches will be available at ValpoAthletics.com, which will also have a link for live audio for Friday night’s match.  Over the course of the 2014 season, five matches will have free live video on the Horizon League Network, including four matches at home, while WVUR, Valpo’s student radio station, will also be broadcasting select home matches.

Head Coach John Marovich: John Marovich holds a 52-43-23 record both overall and with Valpo in his seventh season at the helm of the Brown and Gold. Just the third head coach in program history, Marovich has the best winning percentage (.538) ever at Valpo, and ranks second in total victories.

Series Notes: Ball State – Valparaiso owns a 4-1-0 all-time mark over the Cardinals, including wins in both prior home games.  The last time the two sides met was in 2009 in West Lafayette, a 3-2 Crusader win.

Western Illinois – The Crusaders are 8-2-1 in program history against the Leathernecks.  Last season, the two squads faced off for the first time since Valpo left the Mid-Con following the 2006 season, a 2-0 Crusader win at Brown Field.

Scouting the Opposition: Ball State – The Cardinals won 11 matches a season ago and are off to a solid start this season, entering this weekend at 2-1-1 on the year.  BSU has scored seven times in four matches, including two goals each from Gabby Veldman and Abbey Fiser, while Brooke Dennis has played every minute in net, surrendering just four goals.

Western Illinois – The Leathernecks are 1-3-0 on the year and are coming off of a pair of 4-0 losses last weekend.  WIU has been out-scored so far this season, 11-2, and out-shot, 70-46.

Crusaders Picked Fifth in Preseason Poll: The head coaches selected Valparaiso to finish in fifth place in the Horizon League this season according to the preseason poll.  Milwaukee was picked to capture the league title, with Oakland and Wright State right behind the Panthers.

Looking Back at 2013: Last season’s Crusader squad posted an 8-7-3 record, their ninth winning campaign in the last ten years.  Included among the eight victories were a season-opening win over DePaul – the program’s first-ever win over a major conference program – and a victory over Northwestern – the Crusaders’ first against a Big Ten opponent.  Valpo continued its tradition of being a strong defensive side, surrendering just 15 goals in the 18 games.  Ten different players scored goals for the Crusaders, with 16 players in all tallying points.

Roster Breakdown: This year’s Crusader squad brings back 19 players from last season’s roster, 16 of which saw action last year and seven of whom were regular starters.  In addition, six newcomers – two transfers and four freshmen – join the fray as well.

Fit to Be Tied: The pair of draws last weekend for the Crusaders out in Arizona extended Valpo’s streak of 110-minute matches to three straight, as Valpo also played to a scoreless draw with IUPUI two Sundays back.  This marks just the second time in program history the Crusaders have registered three consecutive ties, as the 2011 season ended with a trio of draws as well.

Second-Half Scoring: All five goals this season over Valpo’s first four matches (two by the Crusaders, three by the opponents) have been scored in the second 45 minutes of play.  You have to go back six matches – to last season’s regular season finale – to find the last time Valpo and its opponent have scored in the opening three-quarters of a hour.  In fact, over the Crusaders’ last 10 matches dating back to last year, they have found the back of the net in the first half just one time.

Abad Opens Her Account: Redshirt freshman Vanesa Abad, who transferred from Ohio State to Valpo after not playing last season, made her mark in the draw with Grand Canyon, opening the scoring that night by following up a rebound and tucking it away for her first career goal.  Abad has earned a spot in the Crusaders’ rotation early this season, starting once and averaging 54 minutes per contest over the first four matches.

Galvez-Daley Strong in Net: With a tradition of strong goalkeeping in the Valparaiso women’s soccer program, the Crusaders looked to redshirt sophomore Sydney Galvez-Daley to fill the spot between the pipes this season, and she has been strong so far.  Galvez-Daley was tabbed the league’s Defensive Player of the Week after opening weekend, and last weekend, the Chicago native surrendered just one goal in 220 minutes and earned her second career clean sheet versus Northern Arizona.  Galvez-Daley is tied for the league lead with a pair of shutouts and ranks second with a 0.64 goals against average.

Ludwig Finds the Net:  Junior Sarrah Ludwig knocked home the Crusaders’ first goal of the season in their season opener against Belmont midway through the second half off a corner kick.  For Ludwig, it was the fifth goal of her career, three of which have been match-winning tallies.