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Columbus - The 12th-ranked Lady Cougars scored all three goals within 20 minutes and used a tremendous defensive effort to shutout Georgia College 3-0 Wednesday night in a Peach Belt Conference tilt at the Walden Soccer Complex in Columbus, Georgia.
CSU improves to 8-1 this season and 2-1 in PBC play while the Bobcats drop under .500 with a 4-5 mark overall and 1-3 in league action. Columbus State is now 7-0-4 all-time versus GC and 4-0-1 in Columbus.
With Georgia College coming off a 3-2 victory over then-No. 5 North Georgia in arguably the program's biggest signature win ever, Columbus State came out with a purpose to thwart another potential upset bid for GC. Nikki Turnbull created the game's first scoring chance midway through the first half when she took on a pair of defenders down the left end line and served a ball across the goal but no Lady Cougar was there to knock it home.
The Lady Cougars continued to generate opportunities as freshman Tori Hood attempted to cross a ball into the box to a wide open Claire Belay but GC goalkeeper Annie Stephens dove to corral the pass.
Chelsea Person finally got the host's on the board as she connected on a one-timer off a pass from Kansas Bayly through the middle of the defense in the 39th minute giving CSU a 1-0 lead which is how the game went into the break.
Coming out of the break Columbus State wasted no time extending their lead as Shelby Rolling netted her third goal of the season off a corner kick just 5:09 into the second half. Kayla Brown was credited with the assist on the play.
All-American Stephanie Lowery put the game away notching her fourth goal of the season in the 54th minute as she drilled a shot into the left side netting. Emily Husted started the attack and played the ball into Lowery from midfield and Lowery did the rest.
Mary Mancin earned the victory for CSU playing the first 69:24 of the match making three saves while Meosha Hatcher played the remainder of the half but did not register a save.
Georgia College also split their goalkeeper duties as Annie Stephnes was between the pipes for the first 66:22 surrendering three goals and making four saves. Taylor Cornelius turned away the only shot she faced.
Columbus State hits the pitch again on Saturday, September 29 when it travels to take on Young Harris in another Peach Belt Conference matchup. The meeting will be the first-ever contest between the two sides as YHC is in their first year as a member of the league. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
