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News
MVNU Men's Soccer Team Ready to Kick off
2010 Season
written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (8-25-2010) - The Mount
Vernon Nazarene University men's soccer team
will look to kick off what should be an
exciting 2010 season when the Cougars get
the year under way on August 26 at Grace
(Ind.) College at 3 p.m.
MVNU is coming off an outstanding 17-7-2
campaign in which the Cougars came within
one win of earning back-to-back trips to the
NAIA National Championship Opening Round.
The team also captured the program's fifth
National Christian College Athletic
Association East Region title and went 2-1
at the NCCAA National Tournament in
Kissimmee, Fla.
With an experienced group of returning
players and a solid recruiting class, head
coach Paul Furey is looking forward to
seeing his team compete in the new season.
"We are very excited to get things going
this year,” said Furey, who has posted a
240-158-30 record at MVNU as he enters his
21st season leading the Cougars. "We have
had a very productive training camp and I'm
encouraged by how well we've come together.
This is a true team. I really believe these
guys will be playing for each other and
representing us with class and integrity.
This could be a very exciting year.”
MVNU will begin a new era in goal after the
graduation of Alex Stout, who was named to
the NAIA All-American Third Team and
finished his career with a program-best 0.90
goals against average and 40 shutouts –
which ranks second in NAIA history.
Sophomore Trevor Stewart, freshman Ryan
Swartzentruber, and senior Tyson Porter have
each been working hard and will all compete
for time.
"It's always tough to replace an
All-American, but our three keepers have
worked very hard and have pushed each other
to get better every day,” said Furey. "I
think we are going to be fine in goal
despite having a new face between the pipes.
It might be by committee or someone may step
to the forefront. However, all three have
shown promise.”
Defense has long been a strength for the
Cougars under Furey as evidenced by the 30
shutouts the team has posted the last two
seasons including a school-record 16 last
year. Senior Kemar Jackson (four goals and
two assists) will anchor the back line after
earning NAIA Honorable Mention All-American
honors last year, while senior Steve
Armstrong (one assist) and juniors Eric
Appiah and Steve Wilging all have plenty of
experience. Freshmen Caleb Palumbo and Clint
Eutsey along with sophomores Damon Yoder and
Jacob Doup add depth to the position.
"We return a good core of experienced
defenders that helped us with a record
number of shutouts a year ago,” said Furey.
"Our outside backs with Kemar and Steve
(Armstrong) are as good as we have ever had.
They are strong and quick defenders who are
also dangerous getting forward. Eric is a
solid technical player in the middle and
Steve (Wilging) is a physical presence and
good communicator. Caleb and Clint will add
much to our depth, and Damon and Jacob are
showing continuous improvement.”
In the midfield, seniors Jake Reber (two
assists) and Nick Bryan along with junior
Kyle Maxam (one goal and one assist) and
freshman Josh Thomas will look to run things
for the Cougars. Senior Felipe Correa
Ferreira and freshman Ben King will also
compete for playing time.
"Our midfield has a bit of a different look
and a different style of play that I believe
should work very nicely for us,” said Furey.
"Jake, Nick, and Kyle work very well
together and Josh should be an added threat
in the center as a rookie.”
Up front, MVNU will look to senior Cody
Snouffer (11 goals and 12 assists), junior
Chris Allen (nine goals and nine assists),
and sophomore Brian Petak (three goals and
two assists) to find the back of the net as
often as possible. Freshmen Austin Hill and
Marc Cannon along with senior Wade Foley and
sophomore Jon Peck will also figure into the
mix.
"Our front line has the potential to be very
dangerous and productive,” said Furey. "Cody
returns as our leading scorer and team
captain and looks to make his final year the
most prolific one. Chris can be the best
player on the field at times. He has
tremendous potential and will be a headache
for opposing defenders. Brian is a feisty,
hard-working attacker with a lethal shot,
and he comes in this year healthy and ready
to go after battling a nagging injury as a
freshman. Our young players have also shown
promise as Austin is certain to see a lot of
action. Marc has been a nice addition as
well and will compete with Wade and Jon for
playing time.”
The Cougars, who received votes in the NAIA
preseason poll, have a pretty stiff
challenge ahead of them in regards to their
schedule for the year. The team has
non-conference matches at Davenport (Mich.)
University, who received a vote in the NAIA
preseason poll, as well as matches at
Franciscan University, NCAA Division II
Ashland University, and two matches at the
Bethel (Ind.) College Tournament including
one against the host Pilots who are ranked
No. 18 in the NAIA preseason poll. MVNU will
also host NAIA No. 4 University of Rio
Grande, Cincinnati Christian University, and
two days of action in the First-Knox Cougar
Invitational where the teams are
Southeastern (Fla.) University, Spring Arbor
(Mich.) University, and Judson (Ill.)
University, which also received votes in the
NAIA preseason poll.
In conference play, the Cougars will look to
compete for the American Mideast Conference
title. Notre Dame College, ranked No. 7 in
the NAIA preseason poll, is the preseason
favorite, while Houghton (N.Y.) College,
Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College, Cedarville
University, Walsh University, Malone
University, Point Park (Pa.) University, and
Daemen (N.Y.) College will also compete for
the top spot and a berth in the AMC
Tournament with an automatic berth in the
NAIA National Championship Opening Round as
the ultimate goal.
"Our conference has had six teams that could
potentially win it with Notre Dame being the
constant,” said Furey, whose team dropped a
hard-fought 2-1 decision at NCAA Division I
#18 The Ohio State University in the team's
lone preseason exhibition match on August
21. "It's great competition and makes for a
lot of late-season drama. We hope to be
right in the thick of it to the end. Playing
top-ranked teams like Judson, Bethel, and
Rio Grande will tell us pretty soon just how
good we are. These guys are ready to go and
eager to take on some challenges. We will
strive to make this season a memorable one.”Cougars' 2010
schedule:
http://www.mvnu.edu/sports/nazsoc/news/results.asp
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