For the first time in Valparaiso University athletics history, the Crusaders had a pair of teammates both honored as CoSIDA First Team Academic All-Americans, as women’s soccer seniors Rita Craven (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) and Jenny Fassbinder (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) both were named First Team Academic All-Americans on Tuesday.

Craven and Fassbinder are the only teammates on the 11-player First Team Academic All-America squad. Both biology majors, Craven carried a 3.97 cumulative GPA into her senior year, while Fassbinder has posted a 3.96 cumulative GPA through her first three years at Valparaiso. Craven was also an NSCAA First Team Scholar All-American choice last season, while Fassbinder was an NSCAA Third Team Scholar All-American in 2014.

“We are extremely proud and excited for our two young women who have been recognized with the nation’s highest academic honors for the second year in a row,” said Crusader head coach John Marovich. “It means a great deal to our coaching staff, our program and the athletic department as we want to develop champions in competition, classroom and community. These two young women are fine examples of how you can excel both in the classroom and in competition. Both Rita and Jenny have displayed over their career an ability to play at an elite level and win championships, while also showing excellence in the classroom, as they prepare to enter into a physician’s assistant graduate program.”

On the field, both Craven and Fassbinder were integral parts of a Crusader side as juniors which posted the best season in program history: a 14-2-4 overall record, sweeping through the Horizon League at 8-0-0 to capture the regular season title, winning the league tournament championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.

Craven closed out a terrific four-year career with her second straight First Team All-League honor as a senior in 2015, tying for the team lead in assists and finishing second on the squad in goals (6) and points (15). She finished her career ninth in program history in goals, tied for fourth in assists and eighth in points. Nine of her 14 career goals were of the match-winning variety, second-most in Crusader history.

Fassbinder showcased her versatility over her four years as a Crusader, playing all over the field for Valpo. She spent her junior season as one of the linchpins on the back line for a Valpo side which posted the best defensive season in program history and ranked among the nation’s best defensive sides. This year, she started out the campaign on the back line before moving up to forward as needed. Fassbinder concluded her senior season with a goal and two assists, and registered four goals and four assists over her four seasons.

“It has been a great experience to work with these two and watch their performance grow, to a level of winning a Horizon League Championship and earning numerous athletic honors,” said Marovich. “I have been equally impressed with their academic development and social growth. Rita and Jenny have developed into strong, confident, powerful women.”

The honors for Craven and Fassbinder mark just the second time in Valpo athletics history that teammates have both earned spots on any of the Academic All-American squads in the same season, as Diane Lundquist was a First Team selection and Andrea Wagonblast an Honorable Mention choice from the softball program in 1985. With this year’s recognition for Craven and Fassbinder, the Crusaders have now had 27 Academic All-Americans all-time, including nine First Team selections. Craven and Fassbinder join Jackie Thomas (2007 – Third Team) and Jackie Kondratko (2008 – First Team) as Academic All-Americans from the women’s soccer program.