After over 80 scoreless minutes in the Horizon League Championship Match on Saturday night, Valparaiso finally broke through in the 84th minute as the top-seed Crusaders defeated Detroit, 1-0, to capture the 2014 Horizon League title.
The championship is the first in program history since joining the Horizon League for the Crusaders and Valpo will make its first NCAA appearance since the 2005 season.
With overtime looming, Valparaiso’s Erika Schoemann had a free kick from about 50 yards out with seven minutes remaining. The long kick settled in front of sophomore forward April Cronin who was unmarked and she beat Detroit goalkeeper Marina Manzo to score the game-winning goal. It was Cronin’s League-best ninth goal of the season.
Cronin finished the tournament with two goals in two matches. Both of her goals were game-winners as she was named the Tournament MVP.
The two best defenses in the Horizon League in the regular season were up to the task in the championship match as neither team had many chances throughout the night. Valparaiso finished the match with a 10-2 shot advantage over Detroit and a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal, but until the game-winner in the final minutes of the match neither team had really had a scoring opportunity.
Valparaiso’s defense, which allowed only three goals in eight Horizon League matches during the regular season, did not allow a Detroit shot in the second half as the Crusaders controlled possession.
Sydney Galvez-Daley recorded her League-best 12th shutout in the win, finishing with one save.
Galvez-Daley joined Cronin on the All-Tournament team, as did Valpo’s Vanesa Abad and Shelby Oelschlager. Detroit was represented on the All-Tournament team by Haley Burtraw, Alyssa Lotito and Alyssa Riley. Lotito had sent the Titans to the championship match with a penalty kick goal in overtime on Thursday night. Rounding out the All-Tournament team was Oakland’s Alice Palmer and Kyla Kellermann and Green Bay’s Heidi Hartmann and Hannah Kernen.
Valparaiso (14-1-4) will learn its NCAA tournament opponent and site on Monday afternoon at 4:30 ET. The NCAA Championship tournament field announcement will be streamed on NCAA.com.
All-Tournament Team
Alice Palmer, Oakland
Kyla Kellermann, Oakland
Hannah Kernen, Green Bay
Heidi Hartmann, Green Bay
Haley Burtraw, Detroit
Alyssa Lotito, Detroit
Alyssa Riley, Detroit
Sydney Galvez-Daley, Valparaiso
Shelby Oelschlager, Valparaiso
Vanesa Abad, Valparaiso
April Cronin, Valparaiso (MVP)
