DALLAS, Pa. (Women's Soccer) - When Mark Stauffer took over as head coach of the Misericordia University women's soccer team in 2000, he inherited a team with a solid winning tradition.

The Cougars were coming off a trip to the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference title game and their first trip to the ECAC championships.

It didn't take long, however, for Stauffer to take the program at his alma mater to new heights.

After two more PAC runners-up finishes in the next two seasons, the 2002 team went 19-2, won the PAC title and made the program's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Stauffer and his Cougars have been winning ever since and he went over the 200-win mark for his career in a 7-0 win over Eastern, October 16.

Along the way, Stauffer's teams have claimed six conference championships and earned seven NCAA Tournament berths, including Misericordia's first Final Four appearance in 2012.  The Cougars followed that performance with a Sweet 16 appearance in 2013.

The 2014 squad has been ranked as high as ninth in the nation and battled top-ranked Messiah to a 1-0 double-overtime loss.

In addition to the team's success, the Cougars have enjoyed their share of individual accolades under Stauffer, with six conference player of the year awards and 73 players earning All-Conference status.

While hundreds of players have played for the Cougars over the last 15 years, the one constant has been Stauffer.

He has guided the Cougars to the post-season 12 times, including seven NCAA Championships berths, one trip to the Final Four and another to the Sweet 16.

After claiming three titles in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference before transitioning to the Freedom Conference, the Cougars have won three consecutive Freedom Conference championships while working their way into the top 10 in the national rankings.

Stauffer first arrived at Misericordia as a member of the men's soccer team in its infancy, beginning his four-year career in the team's fourth year of varsity status.

He compiled 26 goals and 16 assists and led the Cougars to their first PAC championship as a senior.  He ranks eighth in career goals and points (68).

Stauffer began his coaching career as an assistant to Chuck Edkins and helped the Cougars to another PAC title in 1997.  He was part of a 61-25-7 record during his five years with the men's team.

After two years of teaching high school biology and coaching wrestling, Stauffer had an opportunity to return home.

He took it.  And the rest is history.

Courtesy of Misericordia Athletics