November 25, vs. East Texas Baptist University
The fifth-seeded Cougars' run through the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament came to an end in the championship match as MVNC fell 4-1 to second-seeded and defending national champion East Texas Baptist. Chris Masone scored the team's lone goal off assists from Josh Robson and Rick Collins. Goalkeeper Trevor Knowles also posted five saves. Senior defender Tim Lord was named the tournament's Most Valuable Defensive Player, while he was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Robson and Aaron May. The Cougars closed out the season with a school-record .750 winning percentage.
November 23, vs. Indiana Wesleyan University
MVNC, the fifth seed, rallied from a two-goal deficit for the second straight day as the Cougars downed eighth-seeded Indiana Wesleyan 3-2 in overtime in the semifinals of the 1999 National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament. Rick Collins scored MVNC's first goal off an assist from Preston Elifritz, and the Cougars' equalizing goal came on Todd Pearce's penalty kick in the 68th minute. Then, for the second match in a row, Aaron May scored the game-winning goal seven minutes into the overtime period off an assist from Collins. Trevor Knowles also posted eight saves in goal.
November 22, vs. Christian Heritage (CA) College
The fifth-seeded Cougars opened up play in the 1999 National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament by rallying for a 3-2 overtime victory over fourth-seeded Christian Heritage in the first round. After trailing 2-0 at the half, Josh Robson scored two second-half goals despite playing with a pulled hamstring. Robson's second goal came with two seconds left in the match to force an overtime period. In the extra frame, Aaron May scored the game-winning goal two minutes in off an assist from Chris Masone. Goalkeeper Trevor Knowles posted 10 saves in the victory.
November 13, at Nyack (NY) College
For the second straight year, MVNC claimed the National Christian College Athletic Association East Region title as the Cougars downed Nyack 2-1 to advance to the NCCAA National Tournament. MVNC, who had not played in 16 days, got a goal each from Chris Masone and Preston Elifritz. Rick Collins and Todd Pearce recorded an assist apiece, while goalkeeper Trevor Knowles posted five saves.
October 28, at Malone College
The Cougars closed out the regular season with their third straight win as MVNC downed Malone 3-1 in American Mideast Conference action. Josh Robson scored two goals and added an assist, while Preston Elifritz scored the team's other goal. Cougar goalie Trevor Knowles posted one save in the winning effort.
October 26, URBANA UNIVERSITY
In the final regular-season home match for seniors Todd Pearce, Chris Dean, Tim Lord, Ron Hayes, and Matt Salisbury, MVNC posted an 8-3 win over Urbana in American Mideast Conference action. Josh Robson scored two goals and added an assist, while Dean finished with a goal and two assists. Pearce and Preston Elifritz recorded a goal and an assist apiece, and Rick Collins and Grant Jaars contributed one goal each. Chris Masone also tallied two assists.
October 23, at Saint Vincent (PA) College
The Cougars notched a 6-2 American Mideast Conference road victory at Saint Vincent. Aaron May recorded the first hat trick of his collegiate career with three goals, while Chris Dean, Casey Swanson, and Todd Pearce each added one goal apiece. Josh Robson recorded two assists, and Trevor Knowles and Dave Brunk each posted one save in goal.
October 19, OHIO DOMINICAN COLLEGE
MVNC dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to Ohio Dominican in American Mideast Conference action. Preston Elifritz headed home the ball in the first half off assists from Josh Robson and Rick Collins to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. However, the Panthers answered with two second-half goals and held on for the win. Trevor Knowles posted four saves in goal for MVNC.
October 15, at Geneva (PA) College
The Cougars snapped their three-match winless streak and kept their NAIA Region IX playoff hopes alive by rallying for a 3-2 American Mideast Conference victory at Geneva. Josh Robson's second goal of the match knotted the score at 2-2 in the 82nd minute, and Rick Collins scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute off an assist from Preston Elifritz. Trevor Knowles also posted six saves in goal for MVNC. Head coach Paul Furey also record his 100th victory in his 10th season with the Cougars.
October 12, at Walsh University
MVNC's winless streak reached three matches as the Cougars fell 4-0 at Walsh in an American Mideast Conference match. MVNC held an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal, but the host Cavaliers capitalized on their opportunities. Goalkeeper Trevor Knowles posted two saves for the Cougars, and Dave Brunk added one save.
October 9, DENISON UNIVERSITY
The Cougars rallied for a 1-1 draw against Denison in a non-conference match that was called after the first overtime period. After trailing 1-0 in the first half, Aaron May equalized in the 51st minute with his fourth goal of the season off assists from Nels Radtke and Todd Pearce. Goalkeeper Trevor Knowles also posted four saves for MVNC.
October 6, UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE
MVNC battled Rio Grande to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two overtimes in an American Mideast Conference match. The Cougars, who had lost nine straight matches to the defending conference champions dating back to 1989, trailed 1-0 before senior defender Ron Hayes equalized with the first goal of his career with just 58 seconds left in regulation. Todd Pearce and Josh Robson were each credited with an assist on the play. MVNC goalie Trevor Knowles posted five saves during his 120 minutes of action. Junior forward Josh Robson, the team's leading scorer, was held scoreless for the first time all season after scoring at least one goal in each of the team's first 12 matches.
October 2, POINT PARK (PA) COLLEGE
The Cougars extended their winning streak to three straight matches as MVNC defeated Point Park 7-2 in American Mideast Conference action. Josh Robson led the team with two goals and two assists, while Todd Pearce also scored two goals. Rick Collins, Aaron May, and Matt Salisbury also notched a goal apiece, and Grant Jaars tallied a career-high three assists. The Cougars scored their first two goals of the match with only one minute and six seconds running off the clock.
September 28, at Cedarville College
MVNC won its second straight match as the Cougars downed Cedarville 4-1 in an American Mideast Conference match. Josh Robson tied his career high by scoring all four of MVNC's goals, while Rick Collins recorded three assists. Robson, a junior, became the Cougars' all-time leader in goals as he increased his career total to 48. The previous record of 45 was set by Chip Wall (1989-1992). Trevor Knowles, MVNC's goalkeeper, also posted one save in the contest.
September 25, CUMBERLAND (KY) COLLEGE
The Cougars returned to their winning ways as MVNC knocked off Cumberland 2-1 in a non-conference match. Josh Robson became the team's all-time leader in points scored as he recorded a goal and an assist to increase his career total to 107 points and move him past former Cougar star Chip Wall, who compiled 104 points from 1989-1992. Aaron May added the other goal for MVNC, while Todd Pearce recorded two assists. Trevor Knowles also posted six saves for the Cougars.
September 21, TIFFIN UNIVERSITY
MVNC had its winning streak snapped at six straight matches as the Cougars dropped a 4-1 American Mideast Conference decision to Tiffin. Josh Robson scored the team's lone goal in the 74th minute off an assist by Todd Pearce. With the goal, Robson tied former Cougar standout Chip Wall (1989-1992) for the career points lead with 104 points. Pearce also notched his 100th career point with the assist, the school-record 46th of his career.
September 18, SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY
The Cougars extended their winning streak to six straight matches and set a new mark for best start to a season as MVNC defeated Shawnee State 13-1 in the Cougars' American Mideast Conference opener. Chris Dean led the offensive outburst with four goals and an assist, while Preston Elifritz added three goals. Nels Radtke, Todd Pearce, Josh Robson, Casey Swanson, Jeremy Stabile, and Chris Masone also scored for MVNC, and Pearce, Rick Collins, and Danny Lueking dished out three assists each.
September 14, at Capital University
MVNC posted its fifth straight victory and matched the best start in school history as the Cougars blanked Capital 4-0 in non-conference action. Chris Masone, Josh Robson, Rick Collins, and Tim Lord each scored a goal, while Grant Jaars tallied two assists. MVNC goalkeepers Trevor Knowles, Dave Brunk, and Ryan Pearce each posted a save as the Cougars recorded their third straight shutout.
September 11, TRINITY CHRISTIAN (IL) COLLEGE
The Cougars posted their second straight shutout as MVNC blanked Trinity Christian 4-0 in the championship match of the 1999 Pizza Hut Cougar Invitational. Josh Robson, the tournament's Most Valuable Offensive Player, tallied two goals and an assist, while Rick Collins, the tournament's Most Valuable Player, added a goal and an assist. Brian Rice also scored a goal for the Cougars, and Danny Lueking recorded one assist. Matt Salisbury was named the tournament's Most Valuable Defensive Player, while Ron Hayes was also named to the All-Tournament Team. (Click here to see a picture of Hayes, Salisbury, Collins, and Robson with their All-Tournament awards.)
September 10, HUNTINGTON (IN) COLLEGE
MVNC opened play in the 1999 Pizza Hut Cougar Invitational with a 9-0 shutout of Huntington. Rick Collins, Todd Pearce, and Grant Jaars each scored two goals, while Josh Robson added one goal and two assists. Preston Elifritz and Aaron May finished with one goal apiece, and Ron Hayes notched two assists. Goalkeepers Trevor Knowles and Dave Brunk combined on the team's first shutout of the season. (Click here to see video of the match's first goal by Rick Collins.)
September 4, COLLEGE OF WOOSTER
The Cougars rallied for a 2-1 non-conference win over Wooster in MVNC's home opener. After trailing 1-0, Brian Rice knotted the score at 1-1 in the 72nd minute when he volleyed in a shot off a corner kick by Nels Radtke. Then, in the 78th minute, Josh Robson headed in the game-winning goal for MVNC off a corner kick by Rick Collins. Trevor Knowles also posted three saves in goal for the Cougars.
August 30, at Concordia (CA) University
MVNC wrapped up its three-match California road trip with a 4-1 victory over Concordia. Chris Masone led the Cougars with two goals, while Todd Pearce and Josh Robson added one goal apiece. Preston Elifritz, Rick Collins, and Aaron May each recorded an assist, and Trevor Knowles and David Brunk each played a half in goal with Brunk posting two saves.
August 28, at Point Loma Nazarene (CA) University
The Cougars suffered their first loss of the season as MVNC dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision in overtime at Point Loma Nazarene, ranked #29 in the NAIA national preseason poll. Josh Robson scored one goal for the Cougars off an assist from Grant Jaars, while the other MVNC goal was the result of a Crusader defender scoring an own goal. Trevor Knowles had another good outing as he recorded eight saves.
August 26, at The Master's (CA) College
MVNC successfully opened the 1999 season with a 2-1 victory over The Master's in the first match of a three-match trip to California. Josh Robson, who scored a school-record 32 goals in 1998, notched both goals for the Cougars. Meanwhile, freshman goalkeeper Trevor Knowles posted a victory in his collegiate debut as he recorded four saves that included two spectacular ones in the first half. Aaron May and Rick Collins assisted on Robson's first goal, while Chris Masone recorded the assist on the second goal.
