Box Score Dahlonega - Despite playing down a player for the majority of the contest, the No. 10 Columbus State women's soccer team had a convincing 5-0 victory over North Georgia in a crucial Peach Belt Conference matchup. The win brings the Lady Cougars record to 13-1-1 and 6-1 in conference while North Georgia drops to 12-3 and 6-2 in the PBC.
CSU came out aggressive from the start and had a couple of close opportunities early. Kate Walton blasted a shot that went just high of the goal in the fifth minute of action. A nice buildup that began with Kelsey Bass playing a ball behind the backline for Stephanie Parrish to run on to started the next attack. Parrish played a ball into the box which Stephanie Lowery one-timed, but it went to the keeper.
North Georgia had a couple of near goal opportunities later in the first half. Kelsey Martin hit the post in the 25th minute and 10 minutes later Leanne South also hit the post. Those were the only two threats the Lady Saints would have the rest of the contest as the Columbus State defense clamped down.
A failed clear attempt hit Catherine Lovin in the head that bounced to Walton. The midfielder played the ball over the top which Ashton Ziadie ran onto up the right wing and beat the goalkeeper to the far left post for a 1-0 CSU lead with 5:30 to play in the opening period.
A questionable red card sent senior Laurel McKenzie off with 2:15 left to play in the half, leaving the Lady Cougars down a player the rest of the match. With just 10 on the field, Columbus State played some of its best soccer of the year in the second half scoring four goals in the process.
Parrish scored the first of her two goals in the game 7:09 into the second half. Lovin brought a ball down and found Walton who played it to Parrish into the left portion of the penalty box. The forward calmly slid it to the far right side of the net for a 2-0 advantage. Columbus State kept on pressuring and 13 minutes later extended its lead. A flurry of shots by Leslie Mathews and Melinda Bush were blocked by the North Georgia defense before Bush crossed it to Lowery on the right side of the 18-yard box. Lowery hit a beautiful shot close to the left upper-ninety, giving the visitors a 3-0 edge.
Parrish and fellow senior K.C. MacEachern closed out the scoring in the contest. Parrish played a ball out wide to Jaci Carithers who ran onto the ball and took it up the wing. She then served a ball into the box which the Lady Saints keeper tried to get to. Parrish beat her to the ball and headed it in for the fourth goal of the match. Walton tallied her third assist of the game when she played a long ball to MacEachern who had a great first touch to settle the pass. She ripped a shot past North Georgia keeper Jessica English for the final tally of the match.
Willi Babillis earned the win improving to 5-0-1 on the season. She picked up nine saves along the way including eight in the second half. It was her second consecutive shutout as well. English drops to 6-2 while making four saves.
Lowery leads the team with 12 goals, placing her second in the PBC while she is in sole possession of third place in the conference in points with 27. Parrish is right behind her with 11 goals but she leaped over her teammate in points, standing second in the Peach Belt with 28. Walton's three assists put her in a tie with Parrish and Mathews for the team lead with six. It was the team's 11th shutout of the season.
Columbus State returns to the pitch Saturday, October 23, when it hosts Georgia College in another Peach Belt Conference tilt. The CSU student-athlete advisory committee will be holding a "Go Green" initiative in which they will be collecting new or gently used shoes to be donated to the Chattahoochee Valley United Way and homeless shelters. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
