The two teams each had one shot on goal in the first half with MVNU (7-3-1, 1-1-1 AMC South) holding a 6-2 edge in total shots in the first 45 minutes. Then, in the second half, the Cougars out-shot the visiting Yellow Jackets (4-5-2, 1-0-1 AMC South) 9-7, but Cedarville held a slight 3-2 edge in shots on goal. However, the match remained scoreless and moved into the first 10-minute overtime period.

With 2:12 gone by in overtime, MVNU was awarded a penalty kick when a Yellow Jacket defender was whistled for a handball in the box. Sophomore midfielder Scott Spangler took the free kick, but Cedarville goalkeeper John Norton was able to make the save to keep the match scoreless.

The Yellow Jackets were also forced to play a man down less than a minute later when Ken Davis was given a second yellow card in the match and was sent off with the resulting red card. However, despite getting four shots on goal in the two 10-minute overtime periods, the Cougars were unable to find the back of the net as the match ended in a scoreless draw.

MVNU out-shot Cedarville 19-12 overall and 7-5 on goal, while both teams had three corner kicks apiece. Sophomore goalie Alex Stout (left) posted five saves to record his fourth shutout of the season and the Cougars’ fifth overall, while Norton had five saves for the Yellow Jackets.

“It would appear that if you don’t score a goal in two matches that something is wrong,” said MVNU head coach Paul Furey. “However, we are really playing good soccer and doing a lot of things very well. The one thing we are not doing very well is scoring, but we are definitely creating chances and getting shots and also playing good defense. We need to figure out a way to score some goals from here on out. The fact that we don’t have our top goal scorer (Adam Worrall), who is out with an injury, certainly would be a factor into that.”

“Our defense played solid once again and limited (Cedarville’s) chances,” Furey added. “Alex had a good game in goal and our midfield played solid. We got some good minutes from our younger players, and I was especially encouraged by the way that Rockey (Cane) played. Their keeper made a great save on Scott’s penalty kick, and that was pretty much the match.”

MVNU will return to action on Saturday night when the Cougars will travel to perennial AMC South Division contender the University of Rio Grande. The conference match is slated to kick off at 7:00 p.m.