However, reflecting back four months later, it would be pretty hard to find someone who would have been able to predict just how special the 2008 season would actually turn out to be as the Cougars rewrote the school record book on the way to posting an 18-4-2 overall record, finishing No. 7 in the final NAIA poll and No. 1 in the final NCCAA poll, and advancing all the way to the NAIA National Championship semifinals.

“It is hard to find the right adjectives to describe this season,” said MVNU coach Paul Furey, who was selected as the NCCAA National Coach of the Year and improved to 223-151-28 (.590) in 19 years guiding the Cougars. “It certainly was special and short of winning the NAIA national championship would be difficult to top. Things just fell in place for us and when you have a stellar back line and goalkeeper, a relentless midfield, and a player who can consistently score goals you have the main ingredients to win. What really made this team special was their ability to come together. They were extremely cohesive and overcame the challenges that each team faces in a season. It was 25 guys playing for each other.”

MVNU got the season under way by winning five of the team’s first six matches including a 5-1 victory over Knox County rival Kenyon College, who was ranked No. 12 in the NCAA Division III poll at the time. That would be the start of what would end up being a 6-2-1 record for the Cougars on the year against teams in their respective Top 25 polls at the time of the match.

After a scoreless double overtime draw with Cedarville University, MVNU battled No. 2 University of Rio Grande to a scoreless double overtime draw. Despite the tie, the Red Storm went on to be the No. 1 team in the NAIA poll the next week and the following three week’s as well.

The Cougars dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to Notre Dame College in their next match. The Falcons, who were unranked at the time, would go on to post a perfect 11-0 American Mideast Conference mark and finish ranked No. 2 in the final NAIA poll.

That would also prove to be the last loss of the regular season for MVNU as the Cougars rattled off nine straight wins to finish 14-2-2 overall. The team’s 8-1-2 AMC record landed them in second place in the conference standings behind Notre Dame - the highest conference finish for MVNU since sharing the 1984 Mid-Ohio Conference title with Tiffin University with a 6-1 conference mark.

During this nine-match winning streak that equaled the school-record winning streak of the 1984 team, the Cougars also appeared in the NAIA poll for the first time in school history - debuting at No. 25 in the November 4th poll. The next week, MVNU moved to No. 22 before eventually climbing all the way to No. 7 in the final poll that was released prior to the NAIA National Championship.

The second-place conference finish also earned the Cougars a bye in the first round of the AMC Tournament and a first-ever NAIA postseason home match when Rio Grande came to Cougar Field in the semifinals. MVNU picked up its first win against the Red Storm in 19 years as the Cougars blanked Rio Grande 1-0 to advance to the AMC Tournament championship match for the first time in school history. The victory also extended the team’s winning streak to 10 matches to set a new school mark.

In the AMC Tournament championship match, MVNU fell 2-1 at Notre Dame in windy, cold conditions that included driving rain, sleet, and even a little snow. However, despite the loss, the Cougars had already locked up the program’s first-ever berth in the NAIA National Championship.

MVNU not only earned a berth in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round - the Cougars were selected to host a match against Lee (Tenn.) University, a team that was making its third NAIA National Championship appearance in four years. However, MVNU was up to the task as the Cougars came away with a 2-0 victory to move on to the NAIA National Championship Final Site in Fresno, California, with 15 other teams from around the nation.

In the second round, MVNU, which was seeded No. 14 in the single-elimination event, was pitted against seven-time NAIA national champion Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College, who was ranked No. 1 in the final NAIA poll of the season. Once again, the Cougars were undaunted by their opponent’s resumè and pulled off another big victory as they scored a second-half goal and prevailed 1-0 despite being out-shot 29-6 in the match.

The win moved MVNU into the quarterfinals against No. 11 seed Westmont (Calif.) College, another school with a rich tradition in the NAIA National Championship with one national title to its credit. This time, the Cougars took a 1-0 lead just 2:24 into the match and then held on for the team’s school-record 14th shutout of the season.

The victory put MVNU into the NAIA National Championship semifinals for not only the first time in Cougar soccer history but the first time in school history in any sport. It also set up a rematch with Rio Grande, who was the No. 2 seed in the tournament. MVNU fell this time 1-0 on a deflected shot as the team’s magical season came to an end. In three matches with the Red Storm on the season, the Cougars were 1-1-1 and each team scored one goal total in the three meetings.

In addition to the winning streak and shutout records, the 2008 MVNU men’s soccer team set a new school record for best winning percentage (.792) and fewest goals allowed (16). Ironically, all of these records came against what proved to be the toughest schedule in school history as the Cougars posted a school-record 259.7 LONGO rating.

“One thing that really impressed me this year was our consistency,” said Furey. “We came to play every match. I can’t really say that we really had a bad match. We figured out how to win. Sometimes it was an early goal that we were able to hang onto, and other times we found some late-game heroics to win dramatically. When it was all said and done, it was a season for the record books.”

The three seniors (above) on the team all contributed to the successful season. Forward Adam Worrall led MVNU with 23 goals and 10 assists in 24 matches. The 23 goals was the third-highest single-season total in school history, and he also led the NAIA with 10 game-winning goals. Worrall finishes his career tied for third in school history with 45 goals and fourth with 109 points. Among his many honors, Worrall was named to the NAIA All-American Third Team and the NAIA All-National Tournament Team.

Zach Patterson, a defender, played all 2,218 minutes during the season and anchored the record-setting back line. He also registered two assists. Patterson, who finishes his career as a part of 36 shutouts during his four years, became the program’s first NAIA First Team All-American and was also selected as the NCCAA’s Kyle Rote, Jr. National Player of the Year Award recipient in addition to landing a spot on the NAIA All-National Tournament Team.

Sheldon Tugman, a forward, saw action in 17 matches with three starts. He scored three goals and added one assist.

“Our three seniors could not have had a better way to end their collegiate careers,” said Furey. “I am happy for and proud of each of them. Sheldon demonstrated a mature attitude and gave us quality minutes in a reserve role. Zach was honored for his season in ways I am not sure either of us expected but nonetheless were well-deserved. Adam’s consistent play and leadership along with 10 game-winning goals gave us the chance to beat anybody - even the top-ranked team in the country.”

Junior goalkeeper Alex Stout posted a record-setting year in goal as he notched a school-record 14 shutouts while allowing just 14 goals in 23 matches for a microscopic 0.62 goals against average - also a school record. Stout, who was named to the NAIA All-National Tournament Team and the NCCAA All-American Second Team, has already posted a school-record 26 career shutouts with one more season to go.

Juniors Brady Swanson and Tyler Warwick along with sophomore Kemar Jackson and freshmen reserves Tony Yoder and Steve Wilging and junior Kirby Claxon comprised the back line that proved to be a stalwart of the Cougars’ success. Swanson scored a career-high six goals to go with three assists, while Warwick added two assists. Jackson also finished with one goal and two assists as did Yoder.

“The records we set defensively can largely be attributed to our back line and a great job all year by Alex in goal,” said Furey. “However, defense really consists of all 11 guys on the field when the opponent has the ball. It is something we can take pride in as a team. But having said that, team after team really had trouble breaking down our back four. And the few times that they did, Alex was there to come up big.”

The MVNU midfield provided both stability for the back line and play-making abilities to fuel the Cougars’ offensive attack. Juniors Scott Spangler and Chris Mast along with sophomores Cody Snouffer and Jake Reber all worked together as an outstanding unit. Spangler was named to the NCCAA All-American Second Team for the second straight year after registering six assists, while Mast added one goal and seven assists. Snouffer finished with four goals and four assists, and Reber tallied a goal and an assist. Freshman Kyle Maxam (two goals), sophomore Steve Armstrong (one assist), and sophomore Nick Bryan also added depth in the midfield off the bench.

MVNU had other offensive weapons besides Worrall up front as sophomore Rockey Cane, freshman Chris Allen, and junior Scott Forster each saw action as a forward. Cane finished with seven goals and three assists, while Allen added six goals and three assists. Forster also scored one goal as he came off the bench in all 24 matches, while sophomore Wade Foley contributed one goal and one assist.

“As successful of a season as it was, I always return to the intangibles that I believe contribute greatly to team success - the character and integrity of the group,” said Furey, whose team was selected as the Nels Dahlquist Memorial Team Sportsmanship Award recipient at the NAIA National Championship. “We strive to do things right. Having class and being respectful is an important element of Cougar soccer. This group represented themselves, their team, their families, our university, and our faith tremendously. We hope our opponents respected us for our hard work and fair play. We also hope that those who have supported us all year were proud of not only our accomplishments, but of the character, class, and sportsmanship that is at the core of who we are as Christians and as members of the Cougar soccer program.”