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Winter Park, Fla. - A 21st-minute goal from Cassandra Wade proved to be the difference as the fourth-ranked and top-seeded Columbus State University women's soccer team defeated second-seeded and No. 20 Lenoir-Rhyne 1-0 on Friday night. The third round NCAA Tournament match was played at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla.
The victory is the third in program history in the Southeast Region final, joining the 2007 and 2008 teams.
Columbus State (21-0-1) will now play the winner of Rollins and Saint Leo on Sunday in the NCAA quarterfinals. The 21st victory of the season ties the top program mark also done in 2008.
Lenoir-Rhyne (16-4-3) took the first three shots of the match, none of which ended up on target.
The Lady Cougars followed with two near misses. Kelsey Pelletier rifled one at the net that forced Andrea Leano to make a diving save. One minute later, Taylor Marks took a rebound off a corner kick and crushed a shot off the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.
CSU broke through in the 21st minute. Kiana Nicholson played a perfect ball across the field that found the foot of Wade. The freshman went far post and tallied her fifth goal of the season.
Just before the half, Maylyn Parsons came up huge for the Lady Cougars saving a last-minute effort from Garcelle Alequine.
After the Lady Cougars outshot the Bears 7-6 in the first half, L-R took 10 shots in the second frame to none for CSU.
Parsons again came up huge making saves in the 47th and 53rd minutes off shots by Emmi Dunn.
The sophomore made three more saves over the final 21 minutes to preserve the shutout. The Bears had only been shutout one other time this season.
Parsons now has 12 shutouts on the season and the Lady Cougars have 14 overall.
