Valparaiso University Sports Update, October 6, 2016

VU-Valpo-Men-Receive-NSCAA-Team-Academic-AwardValpo Men Receive NSCAA Team Academic Award
For the 14th straight year, the Valparaiso University men’s soccer team has been awarded with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award, as announced this week by the organization.

The Crusaders have the third-longest streak in the nation, bested only by 16-time recipient Carleton College (2000-present) and 15-time recipient Penn (2001-present).

The NSCAA Team Academic Award is awarded to soccer programs whose student-athletes have excelled in the classroom. The award is given annually, and in order to qualify a program must obtain a composite grade point average of 3.00 or better for the academic year. This year’s award is based on the composite GPA for the 2015-16 school year. The Crusaders earned the award with a GPA of 3.01.

Valparaiso was one of five Horizon League programs to earn this year’s honor from the NSCAA. The Crusaders were joined by UIC, Detroit Mercy, Belmont and Northern Kentucky.

Valpo Women Earn NSCAA Team Academic Award
For the 14th consecutive year, the Valparaiso women’s soccer team was awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award, as announced by the organization this week.

The award is presented to soccer programs annually with a composite grade point average of 3.00 or better for the academic year, including both fall and spring semesters. The award is for the previous academic year, making this year’s award for the 2015-16 school year.

The Crusader women's squad posted a team GPA of 3.53 during the 2015-16 academic year to earn the honor for a 14th straight season. Valpo was one of seven Horizon League programs to earn the honor.

Women’s Golf Closes Out Aggie Invitational
The Valparaiso University women’s golf team participated in the third round of the Aggie Invitational on Tuesday in Las Cruces, N.M. Sophomore Kylie Shoemake (Schererville, Ind. / Lake Central) turned in the best round of the day by any Crusader, stroking a 79.

How It Happened

  • As a team, the Crusaders placed 10th in the 10-team event with a 54-hole score of 971, one stroke behind ninth-place North Dakota. The Crusaders made up six strokes on the Fighting Hawks on Wednesday with an 18-hole score of 324.
  • Shoemake finished the tournament with a total score of 245 (+29), matching Angie Kim (Schaumburg, Ill. / Fremdt) for second on the team and 45th overall.
  • Kim carded an 82 in Round 3, dropping two strokes from her Round 2 score.
  • Sophomore Madison McCreary (Batesville, Ind. / Batesville), powered by a career-best 74 on the tournament’s first day, finished the tournament at 239 (+23) to lead the Crusaders and rank 33rd overall. She posted an 82 on the event’s final day.
  • Junior Katie Willenbrink (Mishawaka, Ind. / Penn) scored an 81 on Wednesday to finish at 247 (+31), while freshman Kayla Krueger (Spring Lake, Mich. / Spring Lake) posted an 88 to finish at 250 (+34).

Inside the Rounds

  • Shoemake’s 79 was one stroke above her season best.
  • The Crusaders finished the tournament with 11 birdies, four of which came on Wednesday. McCreary and Krueger chipped in four birdies apiece to lead the way.
  • Host New Mexico State won the team title with an 894, edging UTEP’s 896. New Mexico State’s Kenedie Montoya took medalist honors with a 217 (+1).

Up Next
The Crusaders will have over two weeks away from competition, then they will return to the course for the Braun Intercollegiate beginning on Monday, Oct. 24 at Oak Meadow Country Club in Evansville, Ind. The Braun Intercollegiate is the final tournament of the fall slate. A link to live stats will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.