With the scoreless match about to reach the midway mark of the first half, the action was halted for 45 minutes due to lightening in the area. This break in the action would prove to be beneficial for MVNU (4-3-1, 3-1 AMC) as the Lady Cougars came back out of the locker room and began to take control of the action.

As the match moved into the second half still scoreless, MVNU continued to possess the ball more. Then, in the 69th minute following a free kick that was loose in the box, freshman midfielder Haley Sparks (left) gathered the ball and ripped a shot into the lower right corner of the net to put the Lady Cougars on top 1-0. The goal was her third of the season as she tied junior midfielder Jessica Estep for the team lead.

That would prove to be all the scoring in the match as the MVNU defense did the rest to post the team’s fourth shutout of the year and the third in four conference matches. Junior goalkeeper Jenessa Loewen stopped seven shots in goal for the Lady Cougars, while Walsh goalie Jillian Zanney posted five saves. The Lady Cavaliers (1-4-2, 1-3 AMC) held a 14-11 lead in total shots and a 7-6 edge in shots on goal, but most of Walsh’s shots were from outside the box as the MVNU back line proved very stingy.

“I was very pleased with the way we played today, especially after the delay,” said MVNU coach Daniel Seiffert. “While we were in the locker room, we talked about it being gut-check time for our season. The girls really responded and came back out and played much better. The match got very physical and I thought we did a nice job of not backing down and keeping our composure. This was a good conference win for us.”

“Our defense continues to get stronger with each match,” Seiffert added. “It was great for them to post another shutout and they have now allowed just two goals in the past six matches. Jenessa and the back line are working well together. Angie (Misamore) had another outstanding match defensively as she once again shut down the opponent’s top scoring threat.”

MVNU will now be off for a week before returning to action next Saturday with a non-conference match at Knox County rival Kenyon College at 3:30 p.m.

“We will keep working on things,” said Seiffert. “Our goal is to improve each time we step on the field whether it is in practice or in a match. I am pleased with the way that the ladies are progressing.”