Jordan Sharp, Scott Forster, Alex Stout, Scott Spangler, and Brady Swanson have helped the MVNU men’s soccer program post a 49-24-7 record over the past four years for a .656 winning percentage. The Cougars captured the National Christian College Athletic Association East Region title in 2007 and finished third at the NCCAA National Tournament and then advanced all the way to the NAIA National Championship Final Four in 2008.

Sharp, a defender from Dayton, Ohio, is in his first season playing for the Cougars. The former Dayton Christian High School product has appeared in two matches off the bench this year.

"It has been a pleasure having Jordan as part of our team this year,” said MVNU coach Paul Furey. "He joined our team late - in September after our season had already started. We asked him to help us out, largely as a practice player who probably would not see much action, and he was more than willing to be a part of things. He has been a nice addition as a fun, spirited guy who works hard every day in practice and brings some additional maturity to the team. He has been a good teammate and I am glad he decided to play for us as he closes out his college days.”

Forster, a forward from Newark, Ohio, has played in 56 matches over the past three years at MVNU with four starts after transferring in from Malone. The former Granville Christian Academy standout has scored eight goals during his career including a career-high four so far this season as he has played in all 16 matches.

"Scott has been a nice asset for us as he can score goals and provides a nice big target for us up front,” said Furey. "Technically, he is very good with a hard shot with both feet. He has a good soccer IQ. He is a student of the game and as he continues coaching on the club level he will be an excellent mentor and coach. He is one of the nicest and most pleasant people I know. It has been a pleasure getting to know him over the years and I appreciate all he has brought to the Cougar soccer program. I know he will do very well in the future.”

Stout, a goalkeeper from Pataskala, Ohio, has been a fixture in goal for the Cougars over the past four years as he has played in 77 of the team’s 80 matches with 74 starts. For his career, the former Watkins Memorial High School star holds the MVNU records for shutouts (35) and lowest goals against average (0.93). He also set school single-season records for most shutouts (14) and lowest goals against average (0.62) in 2008 and currently has nine shutouts and a 0.83 goals against average this season. Among his honors, Stout was named to the NAIA All-National Tournament Team and the NCCAA All-American Second Team as well as twice being an All-Conference Honorable Mention pick and once being named to the AMC South Division Second Team. Earlier this year, he was featured in Sports Illustrated in "Faces in the Crowd”.

"Alex has had a phenomenal career as our goalkeeper,” said Furey. "While learning a few valuable lessons as a freshman starter, he has basically rewritten the Cougar record book over his next three years. Many goalkeepers would be fortunate to have a goals allowed average of under 1.00 for a single season, but Alex’s career total is under that to go along with his record 35 shutouts. Not only is he an excellent shot-stopper, he does many other thing important to goalkeeper success well. He is strong in the air, has good angles on attackers, and communicates exceptionally well.”

"Alex is a team player and attributes much of his success and honors to his defense and back line,” Furey added. "He has had many great games during his time at MVNU, but the great save he had on a penalty kick against Roberts Wesleyan earlier this year made a difference in that game. He is a good student and a very cordial, friendly individual with a big smile and unmistakable laugh. His family and his faith are important to him. He can finish his college goalkeeping career with the best of them, and I hope as our season winds down that there are still great things ahead for him.”

Spangler, a midfielder from Pataskala, Ohio and former high school teammate of Stout’s at Watkins Memorial, has started all 78 matches he has played in over the past four years and has recorded five career goals and 22 career assists - the latter of which ranks tenth in school history. This season, he has one goal and seven assists. Spangler has received many honors over his career including being a two-time AMC Second Team pick and a two-time NCCAA All-American Second Team honoree. He was also named to both the NAIA and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete Teams last year and is up for those honors again this season.

"Scott has been the heartbeat of our team,” said Furey. "Often times, as he goes, so do the Cougars. He has been our captain for two years and has started every match he has played in. Only two other players in school history have accomplished that feat and one of them was his mentor and clone, former NCCAA National Player of the Year Rick Collins. Scott can be extremely proud of his accomplishments as a Cougar. He helped turn around a tough freshman season into a third-place finish at the NCCAA National Tournament as a sophomore. Then, he helped lead the Cougars to an unprecedented NAIA Final Four last year.”

"The final pages have not been written yet for Scott’s senior year, but it has already proven to be very fruitful,” Furey added. "He emulates what being a Cougar is all about. He is an excellent student, active in the community as a Big Brother, sincere in his walk of faith, very disciplined and focused, and full of a friendly, caring, and warm personality. Scott is a leader and has helped pave the way for his younger teammates. I have appreciated all that he has brought to the program, and I wish to him and his family all of God’s best in the future.”

Swanson, a defender from Mount Vernon, Ohio, is the only player to have played in all 80 matches over the past four years. The former Mount Vernon High School standout has compiled 13 goals and four assists while also helping to anchor the back line that has posted 38 shutouts during that span. This season, he leads the team in minutes played (1,457) and has scored three goals. He has been named to the AMC Honorable Mention list twice as well as being the First-Knox Cougar Invitational Most Valuable Player last year and the First-Knox Cougar Invitational Most Valuable Defensive Player this year. A standout in the classroom, he was also named to the NAIA and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete Teams as a junior and is up for those honors again this year.

"Most college coaches come to know their players for four or five years during their college career,” said Furey. "For Brady, though, I have known him pretty much his whole life. I have seen him grow as one of my own children over the past 20 years. From running through the athletic department hallway to Cougar Soccer Camp, club soccer, birthday parties, church, and mission trips, he has been in my life for a long time. Two things have always been clear about him. He wanted to play and he wanted to win. Over the past four years, I have seen him play and win. He has played all but 10 minutes for us the past two years, and he has helped us win some of the biggest matches in our program’s history.”

"Brady is a competitor,” Furey added. "You don’t get to have the success and play at the level that he does without that fierce competitive spirit. He is a winner. But he is much more than that to me. Sure, he is a scholar-athlete, a committed Christian, and a great friend and teammate to those around him. He is also a great brother and son who makes his parents proud. He is a quiet but effective leader who leads by example. Brady represents my journey as an MVNU coach of being around great people and enjoying deeply what God has given me.”

Heading into the match against Malone on Tuesday, the Cougars know that they can clinch a berth in the AMC Tournament with a pair of wins in their final two matches. After Tuesday, MVNU will close out the regular season on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Cedarville University in another key AMC match.