MVNU (2-5-0, 0-2-0 AMC) started out well in the first half as the Lady Cougars controlled the tempo and possessed the ball for most of the first 30 minutes of action. However, the visiting Lady Jackets (6-1-0, 3-0-0 AMC) made the most of their scoring chances when junior forward Kelly Wise picked up a loose ball that the MVNU defense failed to clear, split a pair of defenders, and fired a shot into the back of the net in the 36th minute to put Cedarville on top 1-0.

The score remained that way until with 11:10 remaining in the match Wise slipped a pass to Rachel Brownfield, who scored to extend the Lady Jackets lead to 2-0. Cedarville would hold on from there to post the shutout and record its first win over the Lady Cougars in nine meetings between the teams.

MVNU held a 9-8 edge in total shots and a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks, but the Lady Jackets put all eight of their shots on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Jenessa Loewen made six saves for the Lady Cougars, while Cedarville’s Jill Carroll posted four saves. The five shutouts sets a new school record for MVNU for most times being shut out in a season breaking the mark of four set previously in 2006. In the eight previous seasons combined, the Lady Cougars were shut out a total of 18 times.

“This may sound redundant, but we are just making mistakes in the back that every team seems to capitalize on while on the other hand we just have not found the chemistry up front to score goals,” said MVNU coach Jonathan Meade. “It is frustrating, but we have to head back out to the field tomorrow and keep working towards getting better. At some point, things will begin to go our way and we will begin winning these matches.”

The Lady Cougars will look to get things headed in the right direction on Saturday when MVNU will host the University of Rio Grande in another AMC match that will start at 3:00 p.m.