Box Score Savannah - No. 8 Armstrong Atlantic State scored a goal in the 39th minute of play and added a goal with seven seconds remaining to give the No. 3 Columbus State women's soccer team its first loss of the season Saturday afternoon, 2-0 at AT&T Field. CSU drops to 9-1-1 on the year and 4-1 in Peach Belt Conference play while the Pirates up its record 8-1-2 overall and 6-1 in conference.
The game was wide open from the start with several close chances for each team. In the fourth minute Stephanie Lowery served a corner kick into the box which bounced one time before Stephanie Parrish ripped a shot that went just wide of the net. Armstrong Atlantic came down a few minutes later and had a scoring opportunity, but Mary Mancin denied Kristina Pascutti's shot.
CSU's best opportunity to score in the first half came with 26:49 remaining in the opening period. Parrish found Kate Walton who took a dribble to the right and served it across to Lowery who hit a one-timer, but a diving save by Tracey Mitchell kept the Lady Cougars off the board.
Armstrong Atlantic finally cracked the Columbus State defense in the 39th minute. Jordan Otto crossed a ball into the box which Danielle Fey hit in over a jumping Mancin, just underneath the crossbar. It was the first goal CSU has allowed in the first half this season and just the second of the season. It snapped Mancin's streak without allowing a goal which spanned over 488 minutes.
The Lady Cougars came out running in the second half putting the AASU defense under pressure from the start, nearly cracking through several times. Walton and Catherine Lovin both took shots from about 20-yards out but their attempts were blocked by a Pirate defender. Later in the half, a great build-up found Ashton Ziadie alone in the box, but her left-footed shot was saved by Mitchell. Probably Columbus State's best chance in the second half came with 12:50 remaining in the contest. A long throw-in was flicked on into the box by Walton which Parrish connected on, but a fantastic reaction by Mitchell saved the would-be tying goal.
With CSU pressing to get the equalizer, the Pirates countered the visitors as Erin Holt had a break away against Willi Babillis, but her shot attempt ricocheted off the crossbar. Pascutti was there to gather the rebound and notch her sixth goal of the season.
Mitchell picked up the win for AASU improving to 8-1-2 picking up five saves in the contest. Mancin drops to 8-1 on the year making four saves. Babillis played the second half while making two saves for CSU. The two teams were tied with 13 shots apiece while Columbus State held an 11-5 edge in corner kicks. The win for Armstrong Atlantic was the first-ever over Columbus State as the Lady Cougars hold an 8-1-1 edge in the all-time series.
Columbus State returns to the pitch Wednesday night when it travels to Morrow, GA to take on Clayton State in a Peach Belt Conference match-up. The Lakers will enter the contest with a 3-7 overall record and 1-5 mark in conference. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
