MVNU closes out successful seasons in soccer, cross country

While the volleyball team continues to advance in post-season play, MVNU’s other fall sports programs have wrapped up for the year.

Men’s Soccer

The MVNU men’s soccer team ended the season 8-7-5 after falling to Indiana Wesleyan University 2-0 in the Crossroads League semifinals.

The Cougars secured their trip to the league semifinals after beating Bethel College 5-4 on penalty kicks.

Freshmen Thorben Glüsing and Noah Larson led the Cougars’ 2015 season in scoring with 5 goals each. Sophomore Joshua Alexander tallied 4 goals throughout the season.

Senior midfielder George Boamah and sophomore goalkeeper Adam Miller were named to the All- Crossroads League 1st Team. Miller earned the league’s Defensive Player of the Week title three times this season. Senior defender Scott Feighner was selected to the All-Crossroads League 2nd Team.

Women’s Soccer

The MVNU Lady Cougars (10-7-2) ended their season plagued by injuries. The Cougars were taken down 1-0 by Grace College in the Crossroads League quarterfinals.

The team has dealt with ACL tears, broken and dislocated bones, severe concussions, surgery and a flu shot that led to temporary paralysis.

The starting lineup for the Cougars was hit particularly hard. Junior goalkeeper Ashley Flautt, junior forward Allison Paley, and junior midfielder Faith Orecchio all suffered injuries for MVNU. The Cougars finished the season by losing three games in arow.

Still, the Lady Cougars made it into the national rankings this year, and two players (senior forward Rachel Baker and senior midfielder Lydia Simpson) were awarded All-Crossroads League 1st Team honors.

Men’s Cross Country

The MVNU men’s cross country team highlighted a successful year by finishing in fourth place or better

twice this season. The team was led all year by senior Josh Richardson, who came in fifth place or better in seven meets throughout the season, including fifth place out of 121 runners in the Crossroads League Championship.

Richardson’s performances earned him a spot on the All-Crossroads League Team.

The Cougars finished in sixth place out of nine teams in the League Championship.

Women’s Cross Country

The Lady Cougars wrapped up their season last weekend by finishing seventh out of 10 teams in the Crossroads League Championship.

Junior Annie Winkler crossed the line in 24th place out of 121 runners in the race. Winkler was the team’s top runner throughout the season. She set her personal best of 19:39.6 at Wilmington College’s Fall Classic early in the season, crossing the finish line 27th out of 343 runners.

That race was a highlight for the team as a number of Lady Cougars recorded strong performances. MVNU finished 20th out of a 37-team field.