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Stephen WilliamsCOLUMBUS – After falling behind 2-0, the sixth-ranked and top-seeded Columbus State University women's soccer team scored six unanswered goals and rolled past eighth-seeded Lander 6-2 on Tuesday afternoon. The Peach Belt Conference tournament quarterfinal match was played at the Walden Soccer Complex.
The Lady Cougars now advances to the PBC semifinals where they will meet the winner of Georgia College and UNC Pembroke. Kickoff for the semifinal match is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga.
"Lander is extremely well coached and had a great gameplan tonight," said head coach
Jay Entlich. "I'm proud of our girls because they could have folded down two goals.
"I thought we really stepped up our game in the second half and scored some good goals. It was great to see us to respond to adversity and to score six unanswered goals speaks to this team's character."
Columbus State (16-2-1) found itself early in a position it had not seen all season. The Bearcats struck in the game's first minute as Sara Flores headed home the game's first shot 50 seconds in.
In the 14
th minute, Lander (7-8-1) tacked on another on Fayla Junior's first goal of the season. The 2-0 deficit marked the first time all year the Lady Cougars trailed by multiple goals.
It didn't take long for Columbus State to answer though.
Olivia Jarrell blasted a shot at the net that was saved by Megan Wiley, but the rebound caromed to
Nicole Corcione. The junior's header attempt sailed wide right of the net where
Chelsea Person corralled the loose ball. Person played a perfect pass across the mouth of the goal and Corcione tapped it home to cut the deficit in half.
CSU leveled the match in the 26
th minute as
Taylor Marks set up Jarrell for her first goal of the night.
The scoring run continued in the 36
th minute of action as
Claire Belay collected a loose ball in the box and lifted the ball up and over the keeper for her third of the season.
Columbus State continued to pile on in the second half as Marks found the net in the 57
th minute.
Shelby Rolling headed down a corner kick attempt onto the foot of Marks who hit a well-struck ball in for her sixth of the year.
In a physical contest, the third of three straight Lander fouls resulted in a CSU penalty kick with just over 20 minutes to play. Junior
Stephanie Kolwicz took the ensuing kick and netted her first goal of the season.
The scoring was capped in the 73
rd minute as Kolwicz set up Jarrell for her second of the night. Jarrell now has 13 goals on the season and is tied with Corcione for the conference lead.
Columbus State outshot the Bearcats 19-2 for the match and held Lander without a shot over the final 45 minutes.
Maylyn Parsons played nearly 75 minutes in net to earn the victory, while
Paige Betsill cleaned up the final 15 minutes.
