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EVANS, Ga. – For the fifth consecutive season, the third-ranked and top-seeded Columbus State University women's soccer team will play for a Peach Belt Conference Tournament title after a 2-0 win over fourth-seeded UNC Pembroke on Friday evening. The semifinal match was played at Blanchard Woods Park.
Columbus State (16-0-1) won its 13
th straight match on Friday, putting it back in the championship match. The Lady Cougars will play in the title match for the 12
th time in the last 14 seasons.
CSU will take on Georgia College on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Evans.
"I thought we battled today," head coach
Jay Entlich said. "The conditions weren't great and the field was beat up, but we did a good job of controlling the things we could control and put a couple goals up against a good UNC Pembroke defense."
Neither side got off a shot through the first 10 minutes as both teams battled the conditions and tough defenses.
Columbus State's first shot was saved in the 14
th minute. The second, however, found the back of the net. A cross into the center was cleared to the top of the box by the Braves, but
Riley Clark stepped up and rocketed the ball into the net for the first tally.
CSU had more opportunities throughout the first half, but were unable to get on the board again despite outshooting UNCP 14-4 through the first 45 minutes.
The match remained at 1-0 until the 74
th minute when the Lady Cougars found the insurance they were looking for.
Flo Spano sent a cross to the near post from the right side, and Clark was in the right spot again to redirect the ball into the goal. Clark's third multi-goal effort of the season gives the junior 15 overall.
Bria Riancho and the CSU defense took care of the rest, blanking UNC Pembroke (10-5-1). The shutout was the sixth of the year for the sophomore in goal, who made seven saves on the evening.
