Cougars fight for conference championship

The MVNU men’s soccer team (11-3-2) picked up a win and a draw this week, topping Spring Arbor University 1-0 and battling Goshen College to a scoreless tie in double overtime.

The 1-0 victory over Spring Arbor was the Cougars’ fourth conference win.

Senior Enrique Salazar scored MVNU’s only goal of the game.

“We were just willing to fight a little bit,” Cougars coach Andrew Belleman said following the Cougars’ 11th win of the season.

Belleman added that sometimes games are ugly and the team has to be willing to have the character to fight and do the hard work.

“We were willing to do that,” Belleman said. “Spring Arbor is probably the best team we’ve played all season. They were in charge of the game. We have to be better.”

The 0-0 tie at Goshen College pushed the Cougars down to third place in the conference with a 4-2-1 record. Junior goalkeeper Adam Miller recorded one save during the game.

Bethel (11-5, 6-1) currently holds the top spot in the Crossroads League followed by Spring Arbor (10-3-3, 4-1-2).

“Grace and Bethel are two really good teams,” Salazar said. “Our goal is to win the conference and we have a few very important games left.”

The Cougars will host Grace College on Wednesday for Senior Night at Mount Vernon High School at 7 p.m.