News

W.g. Grinders Soccer Tourney on Tap at MVNU This Weekend
written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director


MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - An exciting weekend of college soccer is on tap for Mount Vernon as the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s soccer team will host the W.g. Grinders Cougar Classic on Friday and Saturday at Cougar Field.

The host Lady Cougars enter the tournament with a 1-1-0 record after splitting a pair of matches in Georgia to open the season. MVNU is led by junior forward Kristy Brandonlini, who scored a goal and added two assists on the trip, while sophomore midfielder Page Miller and freshman forward Nikki Bruscino each added one goal and one assist. Senior goalkeeper Krysti Wilson also posted her school-record 26th career shutout in a 5-0 victory at Brenau (Ga.) University.

The Lady Cougars will take on Lee (Tenn.) University, which is ranked second in the latest NAIA national poll, in the first round on Friday at 4:00 p.m. The Lady Flames, who were the NAIA national runner-up in 2005, are 1-0 on the season after a 12-0 romp over Faulkner (Ala.) University to begin the year.

The first match on Friday will feature Indiana Wesleyan University, ranked 21st in the NAIA, versus Ohio Dominican University at 2:00 p.m. Indiana Wesleyan is currently 4-1-0 and has posted three straight shutouts heading into the tournament, while Ohio Dominican University comes into play with an 0-3-0 record after a 2-0 loss to Tiffin University on Wednesday.

"The team and I are very excited to be hosting the W.g. Grinders Cougar Classic again this year,” said MVNU head coach Jonathan Meade. "This tournament has always been a highlight for the team and the fans each year and I expect the same this season. The competition this year is excellent. We take pride in bringing in some of the best teams in the country to compete against. It brings about exciting matches for the fans and also better prepares each team for postseason play down the road.”

"This great weekend of competition would not be possible without the support of our sponsor, W.g. Grinders,” Meade added. "W.g. Grinders has always taken great pride in serving the community with the highest quality and they have brought that same attitude to the Cougar Classic.”

The tournament, which is free to the public, will continue on Saturday with Lee taking on Ohio Dominican at 1:00 p.m. and MVNU squaring off with Indiana Wesleyan at 3:00 p.m. At the conclusion of the second match, there will be an awards ceremony presentation for the All-Tournament Team and the championship trophy.