The first half of the match was controlled primarily by both teams’ defenses with the host Sea Lions (0-1) out-shooting the visiting Cougars (1-2), who were ranked No. 4 in the NAIA preseason poll, 8-4. However, just seconds before the first half ended, sophomore forward Chris Allen (left) found the back of the net to give MVNU a 1-0 lead at the break. The goal was Allen’s first of the season, and junior midfielder Cody Snouffer was credited with an assist on the play.

The score remained that way until the 74th minute when Snouffer stole the ball from a Point Loma Nazarene defender and scored to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead and for all intents and purposes put the match out of reach. The goal was Snouffer’s second of the season, and he has now scored or assisted on all three of the team’s goals this year.

The host Sea Lions finished with a 13-10 advantage in total shots and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks, while MVNU led 4-2 in shots on goal and more importantly 2-0 on the scoreboard. Senior goalkeeper Alex Stout stopped two shots in posting his first shutout of the year and extending his school-record career mark to 27 shutouts. Eric Leboffe notched two saves for Point Loma Nazarene.

"The guys responded very nicely after a very disheartening loss on Thursday,” said MVNU coach Paul Furey as the team bounced back from a 6-1 defeat to San Diego Christian (Calif.) College. "We did things today that have made us successful in the past. We played extremely well in the back and Alex had a strong match for us in getting his first shutout of the year. We found a way to get a goal even though it was not pretty. Chris poked one in just before the half and then Cody put the match pretty much out of reach with a late goal in the second half.”

"The guys played hard and it has been a solid trip in regards to attitude and responding well to difficult playing conditions of playing back-to-back matches in very warm weather,” Furey added. "Despite the outcome of our second match, we played two very good matches out here.”

The Cougars will now travel back to Mount Vernon to gear up for the annual First-Knox Cougar Invitational that will get under way on Friday with a match between Campbellsville (Ky.) University and Spring Arbor (Mich.) University at 2:00 p.m. followed by MVNU taking on Bluefield (Va.) College at 4:00 p.m. Then, on Saturday, the consolation match will be held at 1:00 p.m. followed by the championship match at 3:00 p.m.