November 14, NYACK (NY) COLLEGE
Nyack knocked off the host Cougars 1-0 in the semifinals of the 1997 NCCAA East Regional Tournament. The two teams battled through a scoreless first half before the winning goal was scored with 15:13 left to play in the match. MVNC's record-setting season ends with a 12-8-1 overall record.
November 5, at Ohio Dominican College
The Cougars dropped a 4-2 decision to Ohio Dominican in the first round of the Mid-Ohio Conference playoffs. MVNC, making its first conference playoff appearance since 1984, tied the score at 1-1 on Tony Masone's fifth goal of the season. Then, after trailing 3-1 to the regular-season MOC champs, Scott Dapprich found the back of the net to close the gap to 3-2. The Panthers added another goal to advance to the championship match against Rio Grande. Josh Bush recorded seven saves for the Cougars.
October 25, vs. Adrian (MI) College
MVNC finished the regular season with a 5-3 mark at home as the Cougars downed Adrian 4-2 in a non-conference match to set a new school record for victories in a season (12). MVNC built a 2-1 lead by the half as Todd Pearce and Chris Masone each scored a goal, but the Bulldogs tied it up at the beginning of the second half. Then, Pearce and Chris Cruz each found the back of the net to give seven Cougar seniors a victory in their final regular-season home match. 1997 Seniors
October 23, at Tiffin University
The Cougars knocked off Tiffin 1-0 in a Mid-Ohio Conference contest to advance to the conference playoffs for the first time since 1984. The victory also snapped MVNC's 12-match losing streak to the Dragons. Rick Collins provided all of the offense in the match when he found the back of the net three minutes into the match. From that point on, the defenses took over as goalkeeper Josh Bush tied the single-season school record by recording his fifth shutout of the season with 10 saves. It also marked the team's fifth shutout, tying the previous mark set in 1986 and equaled in 1992.
October 21, at University of Rio Grande
MVNC suffered its second straight defeat as the Cougars fell to the defending Mid-Ohio Conference champion Redmen 4-2 in a conference match. Rio Grande, ranked #22 in the latest NAIA national poll, led 1-0 at the half and 3-0 in the second half, but MVNC trimmed the margin to 3-2 on goals by Scott Dapprich and Brian Dean. However, that was as close as the Cougars would get as the Redmen rounded out the scoring with a penalty kick. MVNC goalie Josh Bush registered 14 saves in the contest.
October 18, at Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College
The Cougars suffered only their second road loss of the season as Roberts Wesleyan claimed a 2-1 non-conference victory. After the host Raiders opened the scoring, Scott Dapprich knotted the score at 1-1 with a goal of his own. However, Roberts Wesleyan later added the game-winner as MVNC lost for only the fifth time this season.
October 17, at Lake Erie College
MVNC defeated Lake Erie 7-0 in a non-conference contest as the Cougars recorded a season-high seven goals. Goalkeeper Josh Bush recorded his fourth shutout of the year with three saves. Scott Dapprich led the offensive attack with a hat trick and an assist, while senior Corey Claxon scored his first career goal and added two assists. Rick Collins, Tony Masone, and Petter Vaagenes each finished with a goal apiece to round out the scoring. MVNC outshot the Storm 20-3 for the match.
October 9, vs. WAYNESBURG (PA) COLLEGE
The Cougars downed Waynesburg 9-1 in a non-conference match, but MVNC later had to forfeit the game for use of an ineligible player. Chris Cruz scored a career-high four goals, while Scott Dapprich and Tony Masone each added two goals apiece. Dapprich added three assists with his goals, and Don Groves rounded out the scoring with a goal of his own.
October 7, vs. MALONE COLLEGE
MVNC rallied for a 3-2 Mid-Ohio Conference victory over Malone. Brian Dean scored off a Todd Pearce assist to give MVNC an early lead, but the Pioneers answered with two goals for a 2-1 halftime lead. Don Groves took a pass from Matt Salisbury and knotted the score with just over 26 minutes left in the game. Then, Rick Collins found the back of the net with a left-footed blast for the game-winner with 19:21 remaining. The Cougars were outshot 10-6, but goalkeeper Josh Bush and the MVNC defense came up big when it counted.
October 4, vs. CAMPBELLSVILLE (KY) UNIVERSITY
The Cougars knocked off Campbellsville 4-1 in a non-conference contest to improve to 4-2 at home. Scott Dapprich tallied two goals to lead the way, while Todd Pearce added a goal and an assist. Brian Dean also scored for MVNC, while goalkeeper Josh Bush recorded 10 saves for the Cougars.
September 30, at Shawnee State University
MVNC evened its Mid-Ohio Conference record with a 4-1 victory over the Bears. Scott Dapprich scored two goals, while Todd Pearce and Brock Evans each found the back of the net once. Don Groves added two assists, and Pearce and Rick Collins each finished with one assist apiece. Cougar goalie Josh Bush did not allow a goal during his 77 minutes in the box.
September 27, LAROCHE (PA) COLLEGE
The Cougars improved to 3-2 at home as they knocked off LaRoche 5-1 in a non-conference match. Todd Pearce scored two goals, while Chris Cruz, Tony Masone, and Don Groves each added one goal. Scott Dapprich recorded two assists, and Groves and Cruz also tallied an assist apiece. Goalkeeper Josh Bush did not allow a goal during the first half and recorded eight saves, while Dan Perschke allowed one goal and recorded one save in the second half.
September 20, WALSH UNIVERSITY
MVNC posted an exciting 1-0 Mid-Ohio Conference victory over Walsh as Petter Vaagenes scored off a Rick Collins' assist with just 17 seconds left in overtime. The two evenly-matched teams battled to a scoreless tie after 90 minutes of action. The Cougars finished with a 10-9 edge in shots on goal with the winning shot giving them the advantage. MVNC goalie Josh Bush recorded four saves as the Cougars posted their first conference win of the season.
September 20, at Ohio Dominican College
The Cougars fell for the second straight contest as Ohio Dominican claimed a 4-1 Mid-Ohio Conference victory. After trailing 1-0 at the half on a penalty kick, MVNC tied the score on a goal by Scott Dapprich. However, the Panthers scored on another penalty kick to regain the lead and then added two late goals. Josh Bush recorded eight saves in goal for the Cougars.
September 18, CEDARVILLE COLLEGE
MVNC suffered its second loss of the season as Cedarville rallied for a 2-1 victory in the Cougars' Mid-Ohio Conference opener. Scott Dapprich gave MVNC a 1-0 lead as he found the back of the net on a direct kick. However, the Yellow Jackets answered with two goals before the half and the teams played a scoreless second half. The Cougars' best opportunity to knot the score came with 9:33 remaining in the match when Dapprich's penalty kick glanced off the goalie and the left post. MVNC played without the team's assist leader, Todd Pearce, who missed the game due to an injury.
September 13, TENNESSEE TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
For the first time since 1994, the Cougars won their own tournament as they defeated previously unbeaten Tennessee Temple 5-0 in the championship match of the 11th annual Pizza Hut Cougar Invitational. Scott Dapprich, the tournament's MVP, recorded a hat trick and also assisted on Todd Pearce's goal. Chris Dean scored the other goal for MVNC, while Don Groves had three assists. The Cougars finished with a 21-3 advantage in shots on goal. Dapprich was joined on the All-Tournament team by Groves, Matt Salisbury (the Most Valuable Defensive Player), and Pearce (the Most Valuable Offensive Player).
September 12, CINCINNATI BIBLE COLLEGE
MVNC downed Cincinnati Bible College 12-0 in the first round of the 11th annual Pizza Hut Cougar Invitational, but later forfeited the game due to using an ineligible player. MVNC scored four first-half goals and then added eight more goals in the second half. Scott Dapprich recorded a hat trick and added two assists for good measure. Todd Pearce recorded with four assists and found the back of the net twice himself. Chris Cruz and Don Groves scored two goals each, while Chris Dean, Rick Collins, and Chris Masone added a goal apiece. Goalies Josh Bush and Dan Perschke combined for the shutout.
September 6, at Bryan (TN) College
The Cougars battled host Bryan to a 1-1 overtime deadlock in the championship match of the Bryan College Tournament. After a scoreless first half, the Lions found the back of the net with just seven minutes gone by in the second half. MVNC answered ten minutes later as Chris Masone scored off a Rick Collins' assist to tie the score at 1-1. Neither team was able to score again in regulation or in overtime. Bryan outshot the Cougars 7-5 and held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks. Goalkeeper Josh Bush recorded five saves for MVNC.
September 5, vs. Toccoa Falls (GA) College
MVNC used three first-half goals and good second-half defense as the Cougars defeated Toccoa Falls 3-1 in the first round of the Bryan College Tournament. Scott Dapprich got MVNC on the board with a goal three minutes into the match. Then, Dapprich found the back of the net again at the 30-minute mark. The Eagles trimmed the margin to 2-1 with a goal of their own, but Petter Vaagenes scored his first goal of the season with six minutes left before the intermission to push the lead to 3-1. From that point, the defense took over led by goalkeeper Josh Bush, who recorded eight saves. The Cougars outshot Toccoa Falls 15-8 and held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks. Todd Pearce assisted on all three MVNC goals, coming with one assist of tying the school record for assists in a match.
September 2, at Oberlin College
The Cougars won their second straight contest as they posted a 6-1 non-conference victory over Oberlin. Rick Collins got the scoring underway for MVNC in the first half, and Scott Dapprich quickly added a goal of his own as the Cougars jumped in front 2-0 with just under three minutes gone by in the match. The Yeomen trimmed the lead to 2-1 as the teams broke for halftime. In the second half, Dapprich, Chris Cruz, Chris Masone, and Brian Dean each scored for MVNC as the Cougars pulled away. Besides his two goals, Dapprich also finished with three assists. MVNC outshot Oberlin 26-6.
August 29, at Grace (IN) College
MVNC successfully opened the 1997 season with a 4-0 non-conference victory over the host Lancers. Scott Dapprich made his Cougar soccer debut a memorable one by scoring a goal and assisting on two others. Todd Pearce added a goal and an assist, while Chris Cruz and Sam Brauen each scored a goal. MVNC finished with a 20-6 advantage over Grace in shots on goal, and Josh Bush recorded the shutout with three saves.