- Valpo Men's Soccer Captures School's First Horizon League Title
The Valparaiso men’s soccer team recently concluded one of the most successful seasons in program history, one which culminated with the Crusaders earning the Horizon League regular season championship, the first league crown by a Valpo squad since joining the Horizon League prior to the 2007-2008 season.
The Crusaders went 5-1-2 in Horizon League play in 2011 to win the league’s regular season title with 17 points. Valpo’s defense was the hallmark of the team all season long, as it surrendered just 14 goals, a program record for fewest goals allowed in a single season. The Crusaders gave up just four goals in league play, and allowed just two goals over the season’s final eight games. Valpo also set a new team record with 11 shutouts on the year, including five straight in one stretch during the month of October.
With the success of this year’s team came a number of accolades for individuals on the squad. Head coach Mike Avery was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year for leading the Crusaders to the regular season title. Avery has coached Valpo to the three winningest seasons in program history over the last three years, racking up 28 victories over that stretch.
Redshirt junior Kyle Zobeck was tabbed as the Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year after playing every minute in goal for the Crusaders in 2011. Zobeck led the league in goals against average (0.66) and shutouts (11), setting new Valpo single-season records in both categories. Zobeck also closed out his junior year as Valpo’s career leader in shutouts and goals against average as well.
For his work on the back line, fifth-year senior Stefan Antonijevic was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year. Antonijevic played all but 31 minutes in 2011 in the center of the Crusader back line, helping to solidify the record-setting defense. In addition, Wei Ming Wong, Jonathon Smith and Guy Shabtay were named to the All-Horizon League Second Team, while Eric Nieto and Zev Taublieb represented Valpo on the league’s All-Newcomer Team.
