Despite a 10-day layoff since the team’s last match, MVNU (12-5-2) came out strong in the first half as the Cougars out-shot Roberts Wesleyan 14-4 as the two teams were playing a rematch of a regular-season contest that ended in a scoreless double overtime draw back on October 20th.

In the 22nd minute, sophomore midfielder Scott Spangler played a through ball to the left flank to sophomore midfielder Cody Snouffer (left). Snouffer timed his run perfectly as he beat his defender and ripped a bending ball that curved off the inside of the left post and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead for MVNU. The goal was the second of the season for Snouffer, while Spangler notched his fourth assist.

The Raiders (8-8-4) had a golden opportunity to equalize with 26.2 seconds left in the half when Roberts Wesleyan was awarded a penalty kick. However, sophomore goalkeeper Alex Stout stopped Daine Merrin’s shot to keep the shutout intact.

In the second half, both teams had scoring opportunities as each team had six shots. Sean Summerville had two great shots for the Raiders as he hit both the left and right posts, but Stout and the Cougars’ defense was able to hold firm as MVNU posted its 11th shutout of the season to advance to the NCCAA National Tournament for the fifth time in school history. Stout finished with four saves for the Cougars, while Joe Marino stopped 10 shots for Roberts Wesleyan.

“I’m just really happy for these guys right now,” said MVNU head coach Paul Furey. “They have really had a good season all year long and just missed out on a few golden opportunities. However, they took advantage of this opportunity and really had a great match as they did what they had to do in order to advance to the NCCAA National Tournament. I’m really excited for our seniors that they can end their collegiate careers having been to a national tournament.”

“Cody’s shot was just a quality strike from 25 yards out on a great ball from Scott,” said Furey. “He just did extremely well to rip it with pace but bent it around the keeper as it went just inside the near post for a phenomenal goal that turned out to be the difference.”

“Our man of the match, though, had to be Alex,” said Furey of his goalkeeper (right) who needs just one more shutout to tie the school record of 10 shutouts set by Josh Bush in 1998. “He came up with three or four quality saves but none were bigger than the stop on the penalty kick. He has done so many things well for us and communicating, but when it comes time for him to step up he has been a big part of our success this year.”

The eight-team NCCAA National Tournament will take place at the Austin Tindall Soccer Complex in Kissimmee, Florida, with the first round slated for Friday, November 16. The semifinals will take place on Saturday, November 17, and the national championship match will be played on Monday, November 19. The tournament will be played out to all eight places with each team guaranteed to play three matches. The pairings should be available no later than Sunday.

“We are looking forward to seeing how the national tournament field shapes up,” said Furey, whose team’s best finish in four previous trips to the NCCAA National Tournament came with a runner-up finish in 1999. “I’m sure that this group will have high expectations as we head south to compete with some of the best teams in the country in the NCCAA National Tournament.”