News

MVNU, which is making its third straight trip to the NCCAA National Tournament, earned the top seed in the eight-team field after compiling a 17-3-1 overall record. The Lady Cougars are led by the high scoring duo of sophomore forward Kristen Votapek and junior forward Catherine Hess and a stingy defense that has allowed just 10 goals in 21 matches this season.

Votapek, who was named the NCCAA East Region Player of the Year, leads MVNU with a school-record 28 goals and is second with seven assists. Hess, who was also on the NCCAA East Region Team, has added a career-high 16 goals to go with a school-record 13 assists, and senior midfielder Lisa Hinman, another NCCAA East Region Team pick, has recorded five goals and six assists.

Defensively, the Lady Cougars have posted a school-record 14 shutouts. Freshman goalkeeper Krysti Wilson (0.44 goals against average), senior defender Cheryl Balogh, and junior defender Sarah Helbert were all named to the NCCAA East Region Team for their efforts.

"We are excited about the chance to go back to the NCCAA National Tournament," said MVNU head coach Jonathan Meade, who was named the NCCAA East Region Coach of the Year. "Our players were looking forward to the opportunity to come back to this tournament. It is nice to be the top seed, but it also means that we have a big target on our backs. This year's field of teams should be very balanced with any team capable of winning the title."

"This tournament is also about more than just soccer, which makes it even more special," Meade added. "We look forward to meeting the other teams and fellowshipping with them. We are also excited about the opportunity to do the soccer clinic service project as a team."

The Lady Cougars will play the final match of the first round at 7:30 p.m. on Friday against eighth-seeded Bryan (Tenn.) College. The Lady Lions, who are 8-6-2 overall, advanced to the tournament as the NCCAA MidEast Region champions with a 3-2 double overtime win over Oakland City (Ind.) University. Bryan boasts the top scorer in the NCCAA in junior forward Abigail Snead, who has scored 36 goals with eight assists this season. Junior forward Renee Delmotte has also recorded 11 assists.

In other first round action, second-seeded Trinity International (Ill.) University (18-6-1) will take on seventh-seeded Dallas Baptist (Texas) University (8-10-2) at 2:00 p.m., while fourth-seeded Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) University (13-7-3) will face fifth-seeded Spring Arbor (Mich.) University (11-7-2) at 2:00 p.m. Third-seeded Western Baptist (Ore.) College (13-8-1) will square off against sixth-seeded Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.) University (11-7-0) at 4:30 p.m. to round out the first day's slate of matches.

Saturday's schedule of matches will have the Trinity International/Dallas Baptist loser taking on the Western Baptist/Palm Beach Atlantic loser at 2:00 p.m. followed by the MVNU/Bryan loser versus the Olivet Nazarene/Spring Arbor loser at 4:30 p.m. The Trinity International/Dallas Baptist winner will face the Western Baptist/Palm Beach Atlantic winner at 4:30 p.m., and the MVNU/Bryan winner will take on the Olivet Nazarene/Spring Arbor winner at 7:30 p.m.

On Monday, all eight teams will play their final matches beginning with the seventh place match at noon. The third place and fifth place matches will begin at 2:30 p.m. with the championship match slated for 5:30 p.m.