Valparaiso women’s soccer junior midfielder Rita Craven (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) found herself in some lofty company on Friday, as she was named an NSCAA Third Team All-American -  one of just 37 players in the nation to earn All-American honors.  Craven is the first Crusader in program history to earn All-American accolades, and is one of just three players all-time from current Horizon League programs to receive the nation’s top honor.

Craven, who received First Team All-Great Lakes Region recognition earlier this week, was a standout on both sides of the ball for the Crusaders during her junior campaign.  She was named Horizon League Player of the Year and Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year after a season in which she tallied five goals, four of which were match-winners, and three assists, finishing in a tie for second on the team with 13 points. 

The box-to-box midfielder matched Valpo’s single-season record with her four match-winning goals and now owns seven career match-winners, tied for second-most in program history.  Craven helped lead the Crusaders in 2014 as they enjoyed the best season in program history – winning a school-record 14 matches, rolling through the Horizon League regular season undefeated and earning just the second NCAA Tournament berth in program history, where they battled Notre Dame scoreless into the 90^th minute.

“We’re certainly extremely proud and happy for Rita to have earned this recognition,” said Crusader head coach John Marovich.  “I think this is really a culmination of a lot of hard work Rita has put in to improve herself, from a soccer standpoint and from a physical standpoint, to take her game to a new level this season.  She was a great player this year for us, and is developing that confidence level in her game, both from an attacking and from a defending standpoint, which will take her game even further.  This honor certainly puts her in an outstanding group of players, and we’re just rly excited for her.”

Craven was one of just 12 non-senior selections among the 37 All-Americans selected by the NSCAA.  Craven and the rest of the student-athletes awarded All-America honors will be honored on January 17 at the annual All-America Luncheon, held in conjunction with the 2015 NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia.