MOUNT VERNON – Cornell head women's soccer coach Jose Fajardo calls next weekend's matchup at NCAA Division I Valparaiso University a "historical opportunity" for his program and the college.
 
The welcome late addition to the schedule became official this week and has the Rams preparing for their first-ever Division I opponent in women's soccer.
 
Cornell travels to play the Beacons on their Senior Night Saturday, Oct. 9. Match time is 7 p.m. at Brown Field in Valparaiso, Ind.
 
The Rams (5-5 overall), the preseason favorites to win the Midwest Conference, won four of their final five matches during a tough nonconference schedule, which featured five NAIA foes. Competition will step up even a few more notches next weekend at Valpo, which stands 6-4-1 overall and 3-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
"When I got hired in 2016, I promised my players that the day that we are ready for competition, we would go for it," Fajardo said. "Although our focus from Day 1 this season is conference, we will go to Valparaiso to compete and try to win the game. We have a great group of women who grow with every game we play and never give up.
 
"We know the difference in divisions between our two schools. We're going to enjoy this historical and unique game. It's going to be a great moment for Cornell Women's Soccer."
 
The Rams open MWC play Saturday with an 11 a.m. match at Ripon. They play host to MWC foe Grinnell at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Then, it's on to Valpo.
 
"We hope this event shows our future recruits that Cornell is serious about soccer and will only get better in the future," Fajardo said.