The match started with back and forth action as both teams had scoring chances but could not find the back of the net. Then, in the 25th minute, Alex Birtcher slipped a pass to Ben Truax, who got just enough on his shot to get it past MVNU junior goalkeeper Alex Stout and into the net for a 1-0 advantage for the visiting Cavaliers (6-11-1, 4-7-0 AMC). It was only the fifth goal allowed by the Cougars in 11 conference matches and it snapped a scoreless span of 447:55 in goal for Stout.

MVNU (13-3-2, 8-1-2 AMC), which had already clinched a home playoff match but was looking to better its playoff position, continued to push forward for the equalizer as the Cougars outshot Walsh 9-3 in the first half and held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks. However, the Cavaliers were able to stave off each attack and went to the half with the 1-0 lead.

MVNU came out strong in the second half and continued to work for the game-tying goal. Finally, in the 62nd minute, senior forward Sheldon Tugman (left) scored the biggest goal of his career so far when he buried a fast-paced shot into the back of the net to knot the score at 1-1. The goal was Tugman’s third of the season and freshman forward Chris Allen was credited with his third assist of the year in setting up the play.

With time starting to wind down and become a factor, the Cougars got a quick strike on a counter attack in the 81st minute. Walsh goalkeeper Ben Pflum lined a low goal kick towards midfield that sophomore midfielder Cody Snouffer rushed forward to get a head on for the Cougars. Senior forward Adam Worrall saw the play develop and alertly timed a run back towards the goal as Snouffer’s header created a breakaway opportunity for Worrall. Worrall made several moves and then blasted a shot into the net to put MVNU in front 2-1. The goal was his team-leading 19th of the year and the 41st of his career as he ranks fourth in school history in that category. It also proved to be his eighth game-winning goal of the year (including five in conference play) as he ranks third in the NAIA.

Stout finished with three saves including a big one in the final minute of play to secure the victory for the Cougars as they equaled the school record for most consecutive wins that was set previously in 1984 with nine in a row. Pflum posted six saves for Walsh, which saw its season come to an end. MVNU finished with a 22-7 advantage in total shots, an 8-4 edge in shots on goal, and a 9-2 margin in corner kicks.

“Today was a sweet win for us,” said MVNU coach Paul Furey. “Not just because it gives us a first round bye (in the upcoming AMC Tournament) or because it ties a school record with nine straight wins. What really made it special was how we came back from being down one goal by showing resiliency and determination to not only equalize but to get the game-winner.”

“Sheldon’s goal was just a tremendous strike and Chris set him up so nicely,” said Furey. “I knew that Sheldon was going to score a big goal for us this year and I hope he is not done yet. Adam (right) has done so much for us this year - he has just been phenomenal. He had just two shots on goal in the match and (Pflum) made a great save on the other one in the first half. Adam is the type of player that if you let him out of your sight for a second he can really hurt you and he did that today with a brilliant goal. He has been coming up big for us all season.”

“The second half was a very impressive statement on our part that we were going to come back,” said Furey. “The guys believed it and they kept the pressure on and it eventually paid off for us. This puts us in a great position for the postseason. We can sit back and see who our opponent is going to be. Hopefully, we’ll continue to play good soccer like we have been up to this point.”

With the victory, the Cougars, who finished second in the AMC regular-season standings for their highest conference finish since sharing the Mid-Ohio Conference title with Tiffin University in 1984, have not only earned a home playoff match for the first time in school history, but MVNU will receive a first round bye and will host a semifinal match on November 12 as the No. 2 seed. The Cougars will take on the winner of the first round match between No. 3 University of Rio Grande and No. 6 Houghton (N.Y.) College that will take place on November 8. The other first round match will feature No. 4 Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College hosting No. 5 Ohio Dominican University with the winner advancing to face No. 1 seed Notre Dame College, the AMC regular-season champion. The winner of the AMC Tournament will receive a berth in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round on November 22 along with Notre Dame as the regular-season champ. If Notre Dame wins the AMC Tournament, then the tournament runner-up will also receive a berth into the national tournament.