COLUMBUS - No. 4 Columbus State women's soccer defeated Lander 2-0 Friday night at the Walden Soccer Complex.  CSU improves to 5-0 and 2-0 in Peach Belt Conference play while the visiting Bearcats drop to 4-2 overall and 0-2 in conference.

Stephanie Lowery gave the Lady Cougars the lead late in the second half after beating a defender in the box to her left and hooking a shot to the far right corner past a sprawling Katherine Baltz.  It was Lowery's team-leading fourth goal of the season while Leslie Mathews picked up her third assist of the year.  

Ten minutes later Stephanie Parrish added an insurance goal to give CSU a 2-0 lead with six minutes to play.  Kim Gaughan played a perfect cross from the right wing into the box to Parrish who headed it home.  It was Parrish's second goal of the season and is also the team leader in assists.  Parrish is tied with Lowery for the team lead with eight points.

"Hats off to Lander for playing a superb contest this evening," said head coach Jay Entlich. "Even after we scored the first goal and then the second goal, we did not feel comfortable at all.  We didn't finish as best we could tonight, but we are 2-0 in the conference and we will take that."

Throughout the contest Columbus State had numerous opportunities to breakthrough before doing so on the Lowery goal.  Three and a half minutes into the second half, Parrish was denied on a breakaway by an outstanding stop by Baltz.  The rebound caromed to Mathews who knocked it over the open net.  Later in the half, Parrish had another great attack slicing through two defenders and blasting a shot just wide of the net.  

Columbus State hit the post twice in the contest and also dinged the crossbar once.  The Lady Cougars outshot the visitors 18-7 in the match and a 10-5 edge in corner kicks.  The depth of CSU was in full force again as 22 different players saw the field.  

Willi Babillis picked up her first collegiate victory, blanking Lander in the second half.  The freshman had several key punchouts late in the contest on corner kicks.  Mary Mancin played the first half, picking up three saves.  Baltz played the entire contest for the Bearcats, denying three CSU shots.  

The Lady Cougars return to the pitch on Sunday, September 19 when it takes on Carson-Newman at the Walden Soccer Complex.  Carson-Newman picked up a victory over West Georgia 2-1 earlier in the night.