Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – Four first-half goals spurred the 21^st-ranked Columbus State University women's soccer team to a 5-0 victory over USC Aiken on Saturday afternoon at the Walden Soccer Complex.
 
Claire Belay, Tori Hood, Olivia Jarrell, Chelsea Person and Cassandra Wade each netted goals as the Lady Cougars improved to 5-2-1 on the season and 1-0-1 in Peach Belt Conference play.
 
"I'm super proud of the girls today," said head coach Jay Entlich. "It was great to see the girls execute the things we worked on this week in training."
 
Shots came fast and furious for the Lady Cougars as Jarrell and Atalia Ramirez each forced saves in the first three minutes from USC Aiken (1-6-0, 1-2-0) goalkeeper Nicole Cranny.
 
In the 12^th minute, Taylor Marks took a rip at the net that was knocked down by cranny. However, Person found the rebound and buried it home for her second goal of the season.
 
Two minutes later, Jarrell drove down the right flank drawing the attention of the defense. With the defense collapsing, the freshman dropped a pass off to Wade who tapped it home to put CSU up by a pair.
 
Belay and Hood each subbed onto the pitch in the 26^th minute and immediately made an impact. One minute after stepping on the field, Belay played a ball over the top of the backline connecting with Hood who was able to head it in for her first tally of her senior year.
 
The scoring continued in the 35^th minute as Belay got in on the action. The junior took the ball off the foot of a defender and blasted a shot home to stretch the lead to four, where it would stand at halftime.
 
After the halftime break, Columbus State's leading scorer created a chance. Nicole Corcione played a perfect ball to Jarrell and the freshman hammered it inside the far post for the final Lady Cougar goal.
 
Columbus State outshot the Pacers 21-9 on the day despite taking only four shots in the second half.
 
Maylyn Parsons played a spotless 45 minutes in net to earn her fourth victory of the season. Freshman Paige Betsill saw her first action in the second half, keeping the Pacers out of the net.
 
Columbus State will hit the pitch next at Georgia College on Wednesday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Milledgeville, Ga.