Nineteen years ago, a young man fresh out of Cortland State arrived on the Misericordia campus to coach soccer.

We didn't tell him during the interview process that the biggest challenge of his rookie season would likely be finding enough players to field a team.

No matter - Chuck Edkins wasn't going to let minor details get in his way. He went door-to-door in the residence halls and rounded up enough able bodies to fill the roster.

With the likes of baseball convert Scott Garabedian and stellar freshman goalkeeper Rob Johnson in the line-up, Edkins and the Cougars survived his first season.

To the amazement of many, they even managed to win four games.

It wasn't easy, but it sure was entertaining.

Like the time after an official's call went against the Cougars and Edkins wondered aloud, “does anyone in this state understand the game.”

Fast forward to 2009.

Now in his 19th season as head coach at Misericordia, the wins have come much more regularly for Edkins and the Cougars.

In fact, with a 7-0 win over Baptist Bible Saturday at Mangelsdorf Field, he became one of just 50 active Division III men's soccer coaches to reach the 200-career win milestone.

Along the way, the Rochester, NY native has compiled an impressive resume, including four conference championships and two NCAA Tournament berths.

Edkins has guided the Cougars to the post-season 15 times and has been voted Coach of the Year by his peers five times.

During their 16-year tenure in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, Misericordia reached the PAC championship match 10 times – more than any other school – including three championships.

A year ago, in their first season in the Freedom Conference, Edkins and the Cougars claimed Misericordia's first title in their new league.

Oddly enough, some of Edkins biggest victories aren't factored into his win total. Since they came via a penalty shootout, they are among the 21 ties on his record.

In addition to last year's Freedom Conference championship, the 1994 ECAC's produced a tie when the Cougars knocked off host and top-seeded Gettysburg in a semifinal shootout.

A stunned veteran coach was quick to inform the young Edkins that the game was officially a tie. Call it want you want, but the Cougars were playing in the ECAC title game the next day and on the way to establishing a winning program.

They've been piling up victories ever since, with players from Ash to Zaengle.

While each victory counts the same in the record books, there are some that stand out more than the rest:
1991: Patrick Meek broke a scoreless tie with 11 seconds remaining in regulation for a 1-0 Homecoming  victory over Penn State Harrisburg.

1996: Stephan Pill fed a wide-open Mike Blasi for the game-winner in the PAC semi's at Cabrini. The Cougars claimed their first PAC title with a 2-0 win at Allentown three days later.

2000: A 1-0 win over Beaver in the PAC finals clinched the first NCAA berth in school history.

2002: The Cougars wrapped up their first season at Mangelsdorf Field with a 1-0 win over Penn State Altoona to win the ECAC South championship.

Add in the plethora of times the Cougars overcame the most dangerous lead in soccer (2-0) and you get 200 career wins.

To quote a local soccer aficionado – “Well done!”