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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – A 23^rd-minute goal from Cassandra Wade was all the ninth-ranked Columbus State University women's soccer team would need as the Lady Cougars downed No. 12 North Georgia 1-0 on Wednesday evening. The Peach Belt Conference match was played at the Walden Soccer Complex.
 
The victory is the ninth straight for the Columbus State (12-2-1, 7-0-1) and the third consecutive 1-0 victory against North Georgia.
 
"I didn't think we played our best tonight," said head coach Jay Entlich. "We gave up a lot of good chances in the second half, but we put away one of our only chances and we were able to make it stand up."
 
Columbus State's first scoring threat came in the 17^th minute as freshman Olivia Jarrell had her first shot clang off the right post. The deflection fell to Wade who fired at the net but had the shot blocked. Mandy Janowitz then took a try at goal that was saved by Mallory Sayre to keep the match scoreless early.
 
In the 23^rd minute, CSU played the ball down the right side to Janowitz. The junior dribbled toward the center of the field passing to Nicole Corcione at the top of the box. The Lady Cougar leading scorer controlled the pass and was able to thread a pass through the defense to Wade inside the box. The sophomore then tucked the shot past the keeper for her fifth goal of the year.
 
The assist was the 10^th of the season for Corcione, the top mark in the conference. Corcione also leads in goals (11) and points (32).
 
Columbus State outshot the Nighthawks 3-1 the rest of the first half to take the one-goal lead into the halftime break.
 
The Lady Cougars had another early look in the second half, this time just after the second half started. Jarrell found the ball on her foot in the center of the box just 45 seconds in, but the freshman skied the shot over the crossbar.
 
From there, North Georgia (10-2-1, 5-2-1) began its assault on the CSU net.
 
The Nighthawks found three dangerous chances in the back half of the second period. In the 67^th minute, Mollie Arrendale snuck behind the CSU backline and had a clean look at the goal. However, the shot attempt was launched wide to the left.
 
Less than one minute later, UNG leading scorer Jacy Ramey got loose in the box and again had a clear path at the net. Once again though, the shot was struck wide left.
 
The last great chance for UNG came in minute number 79 as Rachel VanHorn hit the crossbar on a shot from the left side.
 
North Georgia got two more shots off over the final 10 minutes, but junior goalkeeper Maylyn Parsons made the save on both.
 
Parsons turned in her fourth shutout of the season, marking just the second time this season UNG had been held scoreless.
 
Columbus State will head to Greenwood, S.C. on Saturday for a matchup against Lander. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.