The host Flames (1-0) wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard as Adrian Bumbut scored on a free kick from the top of the box just 3:27 into the match as Liberty moved in front 1-0.

Over the next 20 minutes, the Flames kept the pressure on MVNU (2-1) as they attempted five shots on goal. However, sophomore goalkeeper Alex Stout (left) was up to the task as he stopped all five to keep the score at 1-0.

Then, in the 24th minute, Toby Lewis extended the lead to 2-0 for Liberty with a diving header off a corner kick by Juan Guzman to Bumbut, who passed the ball in front of the goal to Lewis for the finish.

The score remained that way until the 73rd minute when the Flames closed out the scoring with another goal by Bumbut to take a 3-0 advantage. Lewis was credited with an assist on the play.

Liberty posted a 15-4 advantage in total shots with a 10-1 edge in shots on goal and a 7-1 lead in corner kicks. Stout posted seven saves for the Cougars in a losing effort, while Paul Gilbert registered one save in recording a shutout for the Flames.

“This was a very good experience for us to play a team of this caliber,” said MVNU head coach Paul Furey. “They were technically very fast, very solid, and physically very tough. I thought we matched up with their physical play, but technically we just were not able to create enough scoring chances for us in the final third. We didn’t back down, though, and we battled hard. Alex came up big with some nice saves for us, and this match will make us a better team overall.

“This was a good road trip,” added Furey of the team’s 2-1 trip to Virginia to start the year. “We need to continue to get our rhythm of play, especially against high caliber teams where we need to combine better than what we did against Liberty. But, things certainly looked good on this trip.”

The Cougars will be back in action on Friday when the team will host the annual First-Knox Cougar Invitational. The action will get under way at 2:00 p.m. when Campbellsville (Ky.) College will take on Grace (Ind.) College. Then, MVNU will host Great Lakes Christian (Mich.) College at 4:00 p.m. The tournament will conclude on Saturday with the consolation match at 1:00 p.m. and the championship match at 3:00 p.m.