The Mount Vernon Nazarene
University men’s soccer team has signed an
important recruit for the 2008 season with
the addition of Steven Wilging, who has
decided to further his education and
continue his soccer career at MVNU.
Wilging,
a midfielder from Mansfield, Ohio,
registered 13 goals and eight assists in 20
matches as a senior at Mansfield Christian
High School. He was named to the
All-District First Team three times and the
All-District Second Team once. He received
his team’s Most Inspirational Award as a
senior, and he once scored a goal in the
first eight seconds of a match during his
freshman year. He finished his high
school career with 37 goals and 22 assists.
"Steve is going to be such a nice
addition to our team,” said MVNU head coach
Paul Furey. "He is a strong, physical player
with good technical ability. He could play
in the back or is capable of helping us in
the midfield. He is well-respected by the
opposing coaches he has played against. He
is a presence on the field.”
"Steve brings a strong competitive edge
to him which will make us a better team,”
Furey added. "He is a quality individual and
I know the players and coaches alike look
forward to getting to know him more as a
person. Steve’s faith is important to him
and that will make him a great fit for our
campus community.”
In addition to playing soccer at
Mansfield Christian, Wilging has played for
Leiderkranz Mid-Ohio United Soccer Club for
seven years. He also earned three
varsity letters in baseball and one varsity
letter in basketball at Mansfield Christian.
"My older brother, Matt, attended MVNU,
so I have been around MVNU a lot and like
Coach Furey and the guys on the team,” said
Wilging of his college choice. "I see Coach
Furey as a character-building coach, which I
appreciate. I am excited to continue my
education in a Christian setting and believe
the Lord led me to Mount Vernon.”

"It has been a pleasure to coach Matt for
the past four seasons and I am thrilled to
have the Wilging name on our roster for
another four years,” said Furey.
MVNU finished the 2007 season with a
14-5-3 overall record. The Cougars won the
National Christian College Athletic
Association East Region title and finished
third at the NCCAA National Tournament in
Kissimmee, Florida.