Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

By: Stephen Williams

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The best season in program history came to a close on Saturday as the third-ranked Columbus State University women's soccer team fell 2-0 to top-ranked Grand Valley State in the national championship match. The game was played at the Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Fla.
 
The historic season for the Lady Cougars wraps up with a 22-3-1 record, a new top mark for wins in a season for the program. Columbus State captured the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament titles along the way, in addition to the Southeast Region championship and becoming the program's first team to reach the final four.
 
"Give all the credit to Grand Valley State," said head coach Jay Entlich. "They have a great team and they were more efficient than us today.
 
"This was a special year for our girls and today takes nothing away from that. I'm so proud of everything they accomplished."
 
Columbus State played the majority of the first half inside its attacking half, getting the offense moving early.
 
Shelby Rolling slid a shot wide of the mark in the game's fifth minute to start the Lady Cougar attack. CSU would get a pair of corner kicks shortly after, but each one came up empty.
 
Mandy Janowitz took a rip at the net in the 12^th minute, however Grand Valley State goalkeeper Emily Maresh was in the right place for the big save.
 
Less than two minutes later, a Columbus State foul gave the Lakers a free kick from just outside the box. Reigning National Player of the Year Marti Corby cashed in the free kick, hammering a shot into the top of the net for her 25^th goal of the season.
 
The Columbus State offense continued its strong attack getting three shots off in a five-minute stretch, however all three were off the mark.
 
The Lady Cougars picked up three more shots over the final 15 minutes of the first half, with Cassandra Wade missing just wide with a header and Janowitz forcing another strong effort from Maresh.
 
Grand Valley State (23-1-1) found some cushion with just over one minute left in the first half as Katie Bounds was able to get behind the CSU backline and found the back of the net for her sixth goal of the year.
 
The goal would be the last action of the first half and gave the Lakers a 2-0 advantage at the break. Despite the score, Columbus State outshot GVSU 8-2 over the first 45 minutes.
 
Following halftime, Grand Valley State began to gain more possession and took aim at the Lady Cougar net. The Lakers took eight shots in the second half to just four for CSU and held a 6-1 edge in corner kicks.
 
Maylyn Parsons and the Columbus State defense kept the Lakers off the board over the final 45 minutes, but couldn't find the net on the other end.
 
The Lady Cougars finished the match with a 12-10 edge in shots, marking the first time this season the Lakers had been outshot.

Redshirt-senior Chelsea Person, junior Nicole Corcione and freshman Olivia Jarrell were each named to the 2015 NCAA All-Tournament team.