As one might expect with 11 freshmen on the roster and only nine returning players, MVNU got off to a slow start. The Lady Cougars went just 2-5 in their first seven matches with all five losses coming as a result of being shut out.

Then, the team finally began to click as MVNU went 5-0-1 over its next six matches to improve to 7-5-1 on the season. During that time, the Lady Cougars posted five shutouts of their own. The highlight of this span was ironically also the only non-win as MVNU posted a 0-0 double overtime tie at Houghton (N.Y.) College. It marked the first blemish at home for Houghton in conference play since October 20, 2001, and the Highlanders boasted an overall conference record during that span of 65-2-2 before the tie.

Following a 2-1 loss at Ohio Dominican University, the Lady Cougars put together a five-match winning streak with four more shutouts to improve to 12-6-1 overall with the final win of that stretch coming 5-0 over Cedarville University in the first round of the AMC Tournament.

A tough 1-0 loss at Ohio Dominican in the AMC Tournament semifinals forced MVNU to switch gears to the NCCAA East Region Tournament. The Lady Cougars went on the road and posted a 4-0 victory over Nyack (N.Y.) College and a 3-0 win at Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College to earn the NCCAA East Region title and a berth in the NCCAA National Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla.

At the NCCAA National Tournament, MVNU dropped its opening match to eventual national runner-up The Master’s (Calif.) College by the score of 3-1. However, the Lady Cougars bounced back to post two shutouts to close the year - 1-0 over Colorado Christian University and 2-0 over Asbury (Ky.) College - to finish with the second-best record of the teams in the eight-team NCCAA National Tournament.

"Starting the season with more freshmen than returning players presented challenges to the team and coaching staff that we had not faced since our first varsity season in 2000,” said MVNU coach Jonathan Meade as he wrapped up his ninth season with the Lady Cougars and improved to 134-61-7. "With so many new and young players, we knew we had a lot to figure out before playing our best soccer. I am really proud of this group and how they progressed throughout the season and finished playing very good soccer. We took some early hits, but all the players stayed dedicated to our goals and that allowed us to consistently get better each week capping off the season with a strong showing at the NCCAA National Tournament. This was a very rewarding season.”

The MVNU roster featured just three seniors, but what an impact they made. Midfielder Page Miller wrapped up her outstanding four-year career with eight goals and two assists as she will leave the program ranked fifth in school history in career points (77), tied for fifth in career assists (19), and sixth in career goals (29). Defender Kelly Sgambellone added a goal and five assists to finish her four-year career ranked ninth in school history in career points (46), tied for ninth in career assists (14), and tied for eighth in career goals (16). Meanwhile, midfielder Erin Miller contributed five goals and eight assists and has one year of eligibility remaining that she may take advantage of next fall.

"I do want to say thank you to our seniors,” said Meade. "Page and Kelly have been a joy to coach, and they will be missed greatly. I wish them all the best as they move on to pursue their careers. The team and I are very proud of them and know that we are better for having spent the past four years together as teammates.”

The junior class of Mara Hughes, Angie Misamore, and Nikki Bruscino also contributed heavily to the team’s success in 2008. Hughes recorded six goals and one assist while anchoring the back line that posted 13 shutouts. Misamore split time between defender and midfielder, and Bruscino added four goals and one assist out of the midfield.

"It really took a team effort and that commitment started with our upperclassmen and our team leaders,” said Meade. "This group made a strong commitment to welcoming in the freshmen and did their part in building strong relationships within the team so that they could more easily help the new players make the transition to the college game. This season would not have been so successful without our dedicated upperclassmen.”

Sophomores Jessica Estep, Jenessa Loewen, Denče Stentz, and Jamie Blair were all starters in their second collegiate season. After a great freshman campaign, Estep, a forward, led the Lady Cougars with 20 goals and nine assists in 2008. Loewen, a goalkeeper, allowed just 22 goals in 24 matches for a 0.95 goals against average as she notched nine shutouts. Stentz started 14 of the 18 matches she played in on the back line, and Blair played in 24 matches with 19 starts in the midfield as she registered three goals and two assists.

The freshmen class made plenty of contributions to the team’s success this season. Forwards Erin Washington (3 goals, 1 assist), Camille Smith (2 goals), and Sarah Buehler (2 goals, 3 assists) each did well up front, while midfielders Courtney Ricker (4 goals, 6 assists), Amanda Woods (2 goals, 1 assist), Lindsey Shaffer (1 goal, 3 assists), and Ashley Smitherberger (2 goals) also contributed on the offensive end. Defenders Kelci Rhodes (1 assist) and Heidi Moeckel (1 goal, 1 assist) saw time on the back line, and goalkeeper Courtney Ball posted a 2-0 record and one shutout in goal in five appearances.