Box Score Belmont, NC - Following their first loss of the season, the 18th-ranked Columbus State University women's soccer team blanked Belmont Abbey 2-0 Wednesday afternoon. The match took place at Alumni Field in Belmont, NC.
With the victory, the Lady Cougars improved their record to 6-1 and ended Belmont Abbey's (3-4) three-match winning streak.
Senior midfielder Stephanie Lowery put CSU on the board with a goal in the 14th minute. Kayla Brown set up the goal by crossing the ball into the box where Lowery easily tapped in her 36th career goal as a Lady Cougar.
Columbus State had several other opportunities in the first half but wasn't able to find the back of the net taking a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Early on in the second half, Andi Larese extended the Lady Cougar lead to 2-0 with a goal from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute. The midfielder took the ball into the box and fired a shot from about 18 yards out which beat Hannah Kohls for the goal.
It was the second goal of the season for Larese.
From there, the Lady Cougar defense stifled the Crusaders en route to its third shutout in seven games.
Senior goalkeeper Mary Mancin picked up the victory playing all 90 minutes in goal. She improved to 6-1 on the season tying her season high in saves with four.
For the match, the Lady Cougars outshot Belmont Abbey 12-8.
Columbus State has one final match left in their six-match road trip heading to Aiken, SC to take on Peach Belt Conference foe USC Aiken on Saturday, September 22. Kickoff is set at 4:00 p.m. at the Pacer Pit.
