"We are excited about returning to the NCCAA National Tournament,” said MVNU coach Paul Furey. "It has always been a very competitive tournament for us, but it is also a great spiritual experience for the players and the coaches. Each time we have been able to go it has provided us with special memories.”

The No. 3 seed Cougars (15-6-2), who are making the program’s sixth appearance in the NCCAA National Tournament and their first since 2007, earned their berth by claiming the NCCAA East Region title. MVNU is led offensively by junior forward Cody Snouffer (9 goals, 11 assists), sophomore forward Chris Allen (9 goals, 8 assists), junior midfielder Chris Mast (9 goals, 3 assists), senior midfielder Scott Spangler (2 goals, 11 assists), and senior forward Scott Forster (6 goals). Defensively, the Cougars have tied the school record with 14 shutouts as senior goalkeeper Alex Stout has posted a 0.66 goals against average.

Covenant (11-5-2) earned its berth and the No. 6 seed as the NCCAA Mid-East Region champion. The Scots, who are 1-0 against MVNU all-time with a 4-0 win during the 1993 season, are led this season by Julian Allgeier with 11 goals and six assists, while Brian Stair has added nine goals and two assists. Goalkeeper John Eger has posted a 1.46 goals against average.

"Covenant will be a very tough opponent,” said Furey. "They have a great soccer tradition and did very well this year as well. We will need to come ready to play.”

The winner of Wednesday’s match will face the winner of the match between No. 2 seed Greenville (Ill.) College (15-5-2) and No. 7 seed and defending NCCAA national champion Indiana Wesleyan University (9-10-1) on Thursday at 2:30 p.m., while the two losers will meet at noon on Thursday.

Wednesday’s other two first round matches feature No. 1 seed Mid-Continent (Ky.) University (6-5-5) versus No. 8 seed Mid-America Christian (Okla.) University (10-8-1) at 5:00 p.m. and No. 4 seed Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.) University (10-5-2) taking on No. 5 seed Judson (Ill.) University (17-3) at 7:45 p.m.

"The NCCAA fits so well into our mission as a Christian university,” said Furey. "It is great to be around like universities and coaches who embrace competition in the right spirit and do it in a way to honor Christ. While we strive to win wholeheartedly, it is our ultimate goal to play in a way to represent who we are as Christians and to further the kingdom.”