After being shut out on Friday, the NAIA No. 23 Cougars (9-4, 3-1 AMC) got on the scoreboard early in the match against Roberts Wesleyan (5-6, 4-2 AMC) when junior midfielder Cody Snouffer slipped a pass to freshman midfielder Brian Petak in the box. Petak found the back of the net for his second goal of the season as MVNU took a 1-0 lead. The assist was the team-leading seventh of the year for Snouffer.

The score remained that way until the 44th minute when the Cougars used a good build-up to take a 2-0 lead. Sophomore forward Chris Allen started the play with a pass to senior midfielder Scott Spangler, who one-timed the ball to senior Scott Forster (left) right in front of the goal. Forster was able to stretch out and poke the ball past Brion Ehman, the Radiers’ goalie, and into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

The two-goal lead would prove to be much-needed when Allen picked up a second caution just 8.7 seconds before the half as MVNU would be forced to play the rest of the match a man down.

Roberts Wesleyan came out on the attack to start the second half as the Raiders registered three corner kicks in the first eight minutes. Femi Arogundade cut the deficit in half as his goal off an assist from Dustin Tiddick trimmed the Cougars’ lead to 2-1 less than two minutes into the final period.

Roberts Wesleyan had a golden opportunity to equalize in the 53rd minute when an MVNU defender was called for a handball in the box. Tiddick took the ensuing penalty kick for the Raiders and blasted a low liner just inside the left post. However, Alex Stout, the Cougars’ senior goalie, showed that he was up to the task as he made a diving save to knock the ball wide and preserve MVNU’s 2-1 lead.

From there, the defenses took over for both teams as neither team was able to score the rest of the way as the Cougars picked up an important conference win.

Roberts Wesleyan posted a 16-9 lead in total shots and a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. The Raiders also held a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks. Stout posted five saves including the big one on the penalty kick. Meanwhile, Ehman recorded one save in goal for Roberts Wesleayn.

“We really showed resiliency today after having disappointing performance yesterday,” said MVNU coach Paul Furey. “We came back with focus, scored early, and played an extremely solid first half. The calls of the officiating changed the complexion of the second half. With that, we had to change our system and our structure. We showed resiliency by holding on for the win despite conceding the early goal in the second half.”

“The play of the game was certainly Alex’s save on the penalty kick,” said Furey. “That was huge for us. It was great going up early in the match as Brian gave us the early goal. The insurance goal by Scott (Forster) proved to be the game-winner and was set up unselfishly by Scott (Spangler).”

The Cougars will be back in action next Thursday when the team will travel to Shawnee State University for another AMC match that will kick off at 4:00 p.m.