The host Raiders (6-6-4) held a slim 4-3 edge in shots in the first half, but the visiting Cougars (10-4-2) responded with a 7-4 advantage in shots in the second half. MVNU fired three shots in the first 10-minute overtime period, while Roberts Wesleyan had the only shot of the second overtime period. The Cougars had a 13-9 lead in shots for the match, a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal, and an 8-1 lead in corner kicks.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Stout (left) registered his seventh shutout of the season and MVNU’s eighth as a team as he stopped two shots. Joe Marino of Roberts Wesleyan recorded nine saves for the Raiders.

“Today, we played another good match and (Roberts Wesleyan) was another good challenge for us,” said MVNU head coach Paul Furey. “In the end, though, we still leave a bit unfulfilled as we felt like we outplayed a team but could not get it done in the final third. For the fourth straight match, our backline was stellar and denied opportunities, and Alex did his job in goal. We did not play a great first half, but we really turned it up in the second half and minimized their chances. Our midfield played well and created things for us as well as taking a bulk of our shots today. It just did not go our way.”

“We can take consolation in that although we didn’t play our best full match we still managed a tie on the road,” Furey added as the Cougars improved to 3-0-1 against AMC North Division teams - all on the road. “We just have to figure out against better teams how to be more productive in the final third. Now, our biggest challenge of the season comes on Wednesday and we have to prepare and try to figure out ways to manufacture goals against strong teams in the front third.”

The Cougars will return to action on Wednesday when MVNU will host Ohio Dominican University at 4:00 p.m. in an important American Mideast Conference South Division match with playoff implications. The Panthers, who are ranked 10th in the latest NAIA poll, are 13-1-0 overall and 3-1-0 in the AMC South Division. The Cougars must win in order to keep their AMC playoff hopes alive.