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Pensacola, Fla. - An 89th minute goal from freshman Cassandra Wade broke a scoreless tie and gave the 20th-ranked Columbus State University soccer team a 1-0 victory over No. 9 Rollins. The match was part of the Marriott SpringHill Suites Invitational hosted by West Florida at Brosnaham Park in Pensacola, Fla.
For 88 minutes, the match was void of scoring but not of scoring chances.
Both teams had early opportunities, but it was Rollins (3-1) who had the first good looks. CSU goalkeeper Maylyn Parsons denied shots from Brenna McKee and Mackenzie Miller around the 10-minute mark to keep the game scoreless.
Senior Kelsey Pelleiter got off back-to-back shots for the Lady Cougars (3-0) in the 16th and 17th minutes forcing RC keeper Mary Spring to make a pair of saves.
The chances continued to come the rest of the half with the best opportunity coming off the foot of McKee. The shot in the 34th minute hit off the crossbar leaving the game still without a goal.
It was much of the same in the second half until the 77th minute when it looked like Rollins would take the lead. After a CSU foul in the box, Emma Jones lined up a penalty kick looking for the go-ahead goal. However, Parsons made the huge save to preserve the shutout and set up the heroics for the Lady Cougars.
With just 90 seconds remaining in regulation, Columbus State's final chance of the match won the game. Nicole Corcione crossed the ball into the box and found the head of Wade for the game-winner.
For Wade, it was the first goal of her collegiate career.
Maylyn Parsons picked up her second consecutive shutout making a career-high nine saves during the full 90 minutes.
Columbus State now gets set for four consecutive road trips starting with a midweek trip to Lee University on Wednesday, September 17. Kickoff from Cleveland, Tenn. is set for 6:00 p.m.
