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The season got off to a slow start for MVNU as the Lady Cougars began the year with three losses to nationally-ranked NAIA teams - 2-0 at 18th-ranked Berry (Ga.) College, 2-1 to 2nd-ranked Lee (Tenn.) University, and 1-0 to 21st-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University - and a 1-0 loss at Ohio Wesleyan University, which was ranked 14th in the NCAA Division III preseason poll, as MVNU’s record stood at 1-4-0 after five matches.

However, the Lady Cougars bounced back to go 6-0-1 over the next seven matches to improve to 7-4-1 with wins over the University of Rio Grande, Shawnee State University, Malone College, Geneva (Pa.) College, Cedarville University, and the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) as well as a 2-2 double overtime draw with 18th-ranked Spring Arbor (Mich.) University.

Following a 3-1 loss to Ohio Dominican University, MVNU knocked off Tiffin University and Urbana University to remain in first place in the AMC South Division. Then, the Lady Cougars dropped a hard-fought 2-1 overtime decision at third-ranked Houghton (N.Y.) College.

In the final match of the regular season, MVNU cruised past Walsh 5-1 to tie Ohio Dominican for the AMC South Division title - the Lady Cougars’ third in the past four years. MVNU’s record also stood at 10-6-1 heading into the postseason.

After a disappointing 2-1 loss to Tiffin in the first round of the AMC Tournament, the Lady Cougars bounced back to defeat Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College 3-0 in the NCCAA East Region championship match to earn a berth in the NCCAA National Tournament in Kissimmee, Florida.

In the quarterfinals, third-seeded MVNU knocked off sixth-seeded Asbury (Ky.) College 4-1. Then, the Lady Cougars avenged its earlier loss to Indiana Wesleyan by advancing past the second-ranked Lady Wildcats 5-4 in a shootout after playing 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods scoreless.

That set the stage for a dramatic finish to the season as the Lady Cougars rallied from a 1-0 deficit with a late second-half goal to knot the score at 1-1 versus fifth-seeded The Master’s (Calif.) College in the championship match. Once again, the match moved to a shootout and once again MVNU prevailed - this time 3-2 after trailing 2-1. The victory gave the Lady Cougars their second NCCAA national title in four seasons and capped off the 13-7-2 season.

“This has to go down as one of the most exciting seasons in Lady Cougar history,” said MVNU head coach Jonathan Meade, who notched his 100th career win during the season in just his seventh year with the program. “We played an incredibly competitive schedule that truly challenged us to take our play to new heights while preparing us to make a great run at the NCCAA national championship.”

“I told the players before the national championship match that I had been fortunate enough to either coach in or watch the past three title matches,” Meade added. “In those contests, I noticed that each championship team possessed one common characteristic - a champion’s spirit - and that I had seen that in our team as well. It is a spirit that is just so overwhelming and so overpowering that it propels the team to victory. I told them that if they carried that spirit through one more match that they would be national champions and they did just that. It was a very memorable moment to experience that feeling of accomplishment and togetherness.”

Individually, four seniors wrapped up their playing careers as they led the Lady Cougars both on and off the field. Goalkeeper Krysti Wilson closed out her career by allowing just 24 goals in 22 matches for a 1.05 goals against average with six shutouts. She finishes with seven school records - most minutes played in a career (7,568), most shutouts in a career (31) and in a season (14 in 2003), most saves in a career (416) and in a season (147 in 2004), and lowest goals against average in a career (0.95) and in a season (0.39 in 2003).

Allison Elifritz, a midfielder, registered six goals and three assists in her final season. For her career, she ranks fourth in school history with 23 assists, fifth with 18 goals, and fifth with 59 points. Meanwhile, midfielders Allie Warnemunde and Lindsay Saulsgiver also wrapped up their careers with Warnemunde contributing five goals and three assists, while Saulsgiver played in 21 matches. Warnemunde also ranks eighth in school history in career goals (15) and ninth in career points (39).

“I cannot say enough about this senior class,” said Meade of the group that also won an NCCAA national title as freshmen in 2003 and finished as the NCCAA national runner-ups in 2004 as well as claiming three conference titles. “They have experienced championships and disappointments in their first three seasons, and they really took it upon themselves to lead the team this season in a way that would only lead us to success on and off the field. The difference was their spirit on the field to push for the best performance each time we stepped on the field while combining that with the maturity to recognize the importance of building positive relationships with teammates off the field.”

Junior forward Kristy Brandolini had another stellar season as she led the Lady Cougars with 16 goals and 12 assists. She now ranks second in school history in career assists (33) and points (145) and third in career goals (56), and she is in striking distance of all three records next year.

Sophomore forward Page Miller also had a breakout season for MVNU as she registered 11 goals and six assists - both career highs. Sophomore forward Kelly Sgambellone added five goals and four assists, while freshman forward Nikki Bruscino tallied four goals and five assists in her first collegiate season. Junior forward Heather Ross (three goals and four assists) and sophomore forward Bethany Watkins both added depth to the Lady Cougars’ attack.

In the midfield, junior Jessica Pagano (one assist), sophomores Diana Flannery and Raquel Crocker, and freshmen Erin Miller and Katelyn Pessia also each saw action off the bench.

Defensively, juniors Samantha Tomlinson (one goal and nine assists) and Stacy Robey (three assists), sophomore Mara Hughes (three goals and two assists), and freshman Angie Misamore anchored the back line that allowed just 24 goals on the season. Junior Molly Dible, sophomore Amber Pagano, and freshman Carol Thomas also provided valuable minutes off the bench.

“With the end of every season comes the difficulty of saying goodbye to our seniors who we will miss greatly,” said Meade. “However, it also brings about the excitement of renewing our commitment to a fresh new start with new challenging goals, funny and exciting stories, and a whole new adventure to embark on together as a team. I look forward to what God has in store for us in 2007.”