Cougars Look to Set Standard in Season Opener

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. – The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men’s soccer team opens its 2022 campaign on Monday, August 22 as it plays host to Shawnee State University at the newly-christened CH4 Stadium.

Last season started off very well for the Cougars as they won their first four matches and had their eyes on a National Tournament berth. However, the Cougars lost seven of their last 14 games, including a 2-1 overtime defeat to Marian University in the Crossroads League Quarterfinals, and missed the National Tournament. But it is now 2022, and head coach Zach Ganzberg and his players will be eager to flip the script and prove the naysayers wrong as they have lofty aspirations for the new season.

MVNU’s seven seniors will be critical in leading the team to success this season. Goalkeeper Joshua Dunn will return in between the sticks for his fifth season as the Cougars’ number one. The Scottish shot stopper was an All-Crossroads League Honorable Mention selection in 2021. The talented Trinidad & Tobago forward duo of Keon Boney and Joshua Sitney make a formidable partnership in attack and will look to wreak havoc on opposing defenses this Fall. The pair combined for seven goals and nine assists last season, earning both of them All-Crossroads League honors. The industrious trio of Jared Mount, Iran Masis, and Brett Cingle add necessary experience and leadership to a team filled with underclassmen.

Speaking of underclassmen, Ganzberg has brought in a huge freshmen class of 12 to bolster his squad. Angelo Elia, Reid Vance, Jordan McMahon, Pim Huijgens, Alex DeJesus, Gudmundur Sigurbjornsson, Kai Mays, Tiago DeJesus, Caio Carrara, Micah Post, Isaiah Jones, and Ben Roseberry all come into the team and will be hungry for playing time, making for healthy competition within the Cougar ranks. Transfer goalkeeper Nate Hutsell, a junior coming from Ancilla College of Marian University, will also provide depth and competition for Dunn in goal.

With MVNU’s mix of experience and youth, it will be exciting to see the Cougars take the field in 2022. Coach Ganzberg will have his players focused on getting a good result on August 22 against Shawnee State and setting the tone for what is to come this Fall.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and several convenient Graduate and Professional Studies locations throughout the state, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education to more than 2,200 students from 31 states and 22 countries/U.S. territories.