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First-Knox Cougar Invitational to Kick off on Fridaywritten by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men’s soccer team will host the 2006 First-Knox Cougar Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Cougar Field in what should prove to be two exciting days of college soccer.
"Once again we are thrilled to team up with First-Knox National Bank,” said MVNU head coach Paul Furey. "They have been a great partner for us over the years. We appreciate Barb Barry and her generosity and her willingness to work with us. It has been a great relationship and we look forward to keeping this tradition of great soccer going for many years to come.”
The host Cougars will enter the tournament with a 1-1-0 record after finishing second at the Judson (Ill.) College Tournament last weekend. MVNU defeated Taylor (Ind.) University 3-0 in the first round and then fell 3-1 to host Judson, who is ranked 14th in the NAIA preseason poll, in the championship match. Senior forward Jonathan Hoop leads the team with two goals scored, while senior forward Josh Van Pelt and sophomore midfielder Adam Worrall have scored one goal apiece. Freshman midfielder Scott Spangler has also notched an assist in each of the team’s first two matches.
MVNU will take on Cornerstone (Mich.) University in the first round on Friday at 4:00 p.m. Coming off a 13-6-1 record last season, the Golden Eagles battled Trinity International (Ill.) University to a scoreless double overtime draw last Saturday in their only contest of the 2006 season to date.
The first match on Friday will feature Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College versus Mid-Continent (Ky.) University at 2:00 p.m. The Raiders of Roberts Wesleyan are currently 1-0-0 on the season after a 1-0 victory over Houghton (N.Y.) College on Monday. In that contest, Tom Graham scored the only goal of the match in the 72nd minute of action. Meanwhile, the Cougars of Mid-Continent will be coming off a 4-1 victory over NCAA Division II University of Alabama-Huntsville. The Cougars are the defending National Christian College Athletic Association national champs and are ranked 19th in the NAIA preseason poll.
"It is safe to say that this is the strongest pool of teams that we have ever had at the First-Knox Cougar Invitational,” said Furey. "Cornerstone is coming off a solid year and will be a tough challenge for us in the first round. Roberts Wesleyan is traditionally a very strong program and will be tough again this year. And, needless to say, Mid-Continent is ranked 19th presently in the NAIA. I think we have got four very good teams that will make for a very exciting weekend of soccer.”
The tournament, which is free to the public, will continue on Saturday with the consolation match beginning at 1:00 p.m. followed by the championship match at 3:00 p.m. At the conclusion of the championship match, there will be an awards presentation for the All-Tournament Team and the championship trophy.
