Mast (left), who has only scored in two matches this season but has two hat tricks and leads the team with six goals, wasted little time in getting NAIA No. 23 MVNU (8-3) on the scoreboard when he took a loose ball from the defense and beat Huw Howell-Pryce, the Blue Knights’ goalie, to put the Cougars on top 1-0 just 6:04 into the match.

In the 23rd minute, Mast headed in his second goal of the match off a corner kick from junior midfielder Cody Snouffer to extend the lead to 2-0. The assist was Snouffer’s team-leading sixth of the season.

The score remained that way until the 81st minute when Mast took a pass from junior midfielder Jake Reber and found the back of the net from 20 yards out on the right side of the box to make it 3-0. The assist was the second of the year for Reber.

The MVNU defense, which had its school-record string of seven straight shutouts stopped in a 1-0 loss at NAIA No. 9 University of Rio Grande on Wednesday night, posted its eighth shutout of the season as the Cougars limited Urbana (2-7-1) to just seven total shots and only five on goal compared to 22 shots and 12 shots on goal for the Cougars. Senior goalkeeper Alex Stout registered three saves as he increased his school-record career total to 34 shutouts. Howell-Pryce recorded eight saves for the Blue Knights.

"Chris had a big day for us and played extremely well,” said MVNU coach Paul Furey. "We talked about an early goal and he delivered for us early in the match to set the tone. His second goal was a great header and his third goal was just a fantastic finish with his left foot.”

"Overall, I thought we moved the ball well as a team and adapted to the turf and the windy conditions,” Furey added. "It was nice for the back line and Alex to record another shutout. We played really solid in the back especially in the air with Steve (Wilging), Brady (Swanson), Kemar (Jackson), and Steve (Armstrong).”

The Cougars will be back in action on Friday when MVNU will play the first of two big American Mideast Conference matches over the weekend. On Friday, the Cougars will host Houghton (N.Y.) College at 2:00 p.m. and then will take on Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

"Now, we prepare for our big weekend ahead,” said Furey. "We have a little time to get ready for two important AMC matches at home next weekend.”