Longino Joins Women’s Soccer Coaching Staff
Valparaiso University women’s soccer head coach John Marovich announced today that Katelyn Longino has joined the Crusaders as an assistant coach. Longino comes to Valpo after spending last season on the coaching staff at Xavier University.
“I’m excited to join Valparaiso University and the Valpo women’s soccer program,” said Longino. “I was attracted to the fact that Valpo is really here to aid a student-athlete and provide them great experiences, both on and off the field. Valpo provides a huge opportunity for me to grow, to learn under Coach Marovich and him to mentor me while I get the chance to coach some outstanding young women.”
Longino spent the 2016 season as an assistant coach with the Musketeers after wrapping up her time at Columbus State University. She played as a freshman in 2012 for the Lady Cougars, helping the team to 18 wins and a berth in the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen. Longino then spent the next two seasons as a student assistant, helping guide CSU to a 21-1-1 record and an Elite Eight berth in 2014. In her final year at Columbus State, Longino served as an intern in the athletic department, working directly with women’s soccer as they won 22 matches and reached the national championship match.
“Katelyn is an outstanding person of character and a bright young coach in the profession,” said Marovich. “Her display of enthusiasm and passion for working with student athletes to improve them in Classroom, Competition and Community was unmatched throughout the process. Her coaching insight was developed through playing and coaching with some very talented and highly respected coaches in the business. Her experience and education in the exercise science field fits perfectly with our culture in utilizing technology to assist our student-athletes and staff in maximizing athletic performance. It became very clear as I spoke with individuals who have spent time around Katelyn that she would be a great fit at Valparaiso University and a great representative of the University and our soccer program. We are very fortunate and excited about adding Katelyn to our Valpo Soccer family.”
Longino holds a USSF “D” Coaching License and also brings a wealth of experience coaching club soccer to the position, having held coaching positions with Ohio Elite Soccer Association, CFC Red Star and Columbus Youth Soccer. She graduated from Columbus State University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, and is currently working towards a master’s degree in coaching education and athlete development from Xavier University.
Cronin Earns Scholar All-Region Accolade
Valparaiso University women’s soccer senior April Cronin (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) has been named to the NSCAA Scholar All-North/Central Region Second Team for her work on the field and in the classroom, as announced today by the NSCAA. It is the second straight season Cronin has received Second Team Scholar All-Region honors.
Cronin concluded her stellar career in 2016 with the Crusaders, leading the team as a senior with eight goals (seventh in a season in program history), five assists (third in a season all-time at Valpo and just one off the record) and 21 points (sixth-most in a single season). She also tabulated four match-winners among her eight goals. A three-time First Team All-Horizon League honoree, Cronin finished up her four years tied for first in career match-winning goals (10), second in goals (25) and points (61) and third in assists (11).
In the classroom, Cronin holds a 3.49 cumulative GPA as an elementary education major. Beyond earning Scholar All-Region honors the last two seasons, she has been a member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll each semester eligible.
Valpo Releases 2017 Baseball Schedule
The Valparaiso University baseball program has released its schedule for the 2017 season.
The Crusaders will begin the new campaign on Feb. 17 at Western Kentucky for the first of a three-game series, the first meeting between the two teams since 2002. The series will take place at newly-renovated Nick Denes Field in Bowling Green, Ky.
The second weekend set of the year will occur Feb. 24-26 at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Then, the Crusaders head to Jacksonville to collide with the Dolphins on March 3 for the first of eight straight games in the Sunshine State.
The series at Jacksonville continues on March 4 and 5, before the Crusaders hook up with the University of Pennsylvania in Port St. Lucie, Fla. on March 7-8. The Quakers feature the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The spring trip concludes with a three-game set against American Athletic Conference member University of South Florida.
The Horizon League slate kicks into gear on March 17, when the Crusaders travel to Wright State to begin a three-game series at Nischwitz Stadium. The defending league champion Raiders won two games in the NCAA Regional last year to cap a 46-17 season. The game against the Crusaders will mark the first league game for new head coach Jeff Mercer.
For the second consecutive year, the Horizon League will utilize a format where each team plays five games against each other team, one three-game series and one doubleheader.
Valpo visits Wichita State for a three-game series from March 31 to April 2. That will mark the first-ever meeting between the two squads.
A season-opening stretch of 26 consecutive games away from Emory G. Bauer Field concludes on April 5, when the Crusaders welcome Western Michigan for the home opener. The first Horizon League home set of the year will take place April 7-9 against Northern Kentucky.
Midweek opponents include the usual suspects, as Valpo continues longstanding matchups with the likes of Chicago State, Western Michigan, Purdue, Ball State, Illinois State, Northern Illinois and Notre Dame. The Crusaders will play a home-and-home against Purdue and Chicago State, while traveling to Notre Dame, Ball State and Illinois State and hosting Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
The regular season rounds out May 18-20 when Valpo welcomes Milwaukee to Emory G. Bauer Field. The Horizon League Tournament will begin on May 24, with the location to be determined based on the order of the regular season standings.
The Crusaders are coming off an impressive season that saw them finish 30-28, their first winning record since 2013. It marked the seventh 30-win year in program history. The Crusaders reached the championship game of the Horizon League Tournament.
Schier Signs NLI with Valpo Women’s Golf
The Valparaiso University women’s golf program has announced the addition of Shelby Schier (Greenwood, Ind. / Center Grove) for the 2017-18 season. Schier, a current high school senior, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Crusaders.
“I chose Valpo because I know it is a great school education-wise,” she said. “I know a couple of girls on the team. When I came up to visit, I liked the size and the whole athletic department.”
Schier reached the Indiana High School Athletic Association state finals as a junior in 2015 and placed 45th. During her senior season, she helped guide her team to a sectional title by shooting a 75 to tie for first in the Center Grove Sectional. As a team, Center Grove edged Perry Meridian 312-319 to take the sectional title. Schier finished second after being edged out in a one-hole playoff for top medalist honors.
Schier’s consistency was on display over the course of the season, as she also stroked 75s in two other big events – the Johnson County championship and the State Preview Tournament. She thrived in tournament settings, while also posting a county-best nine-hole average of 40.
After leading her team to sectional and Johnson County championships this year, Schier was named the Johnson County Girls Golf Player of the Year by the Daily Journal newspaper. She was also selected as team Most Valuable Player, notched all- Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference accolades and was a team captain.
“One of my strengths is that I’m pretty consistent with my scores,” she said. “I usually do well in two-day and three-day tournaments because of that consistency. I’m also good at ball striking. I’m working on improving my putting and my short game.”
Schier has also participated in the Hoosier Junior Championship, Masters Tour Championship, Age Group Championship, Northern Junior Masters and Central Junior Masters.
Schier, who plans to major in accounting, is enthusiastic about the direction of the Valparaiso program under the guidance of newly-hired head coach Jon Haas.
“I’m looking forward to being with new people and a new team,” Schier said. “I’m excited about getting a lot more experience with golf and trying to improve on my game as much as I can.”
