COLUMBUS - The fourth-ranked Columbus State University women's soccer team will open the 2019 season on Saturday taking on Embry-Riddle. The match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the ERAU Soccer Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla. with real-time statistics and live video available on CSUCougars.com.

About the Columbus State Lady Cougars

The Lady Cougars start 2019 with high expectations once again. After reaching the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals a season ago, CSU will look to punch its ticket to the national tournament for the 14th consecutive season.  

Columbus State has claimed a share of the Peach Belt Conference regular-season title for six straight years while appearing in the PBC Tournament championship match in four out of the last five seasons. 

Head coach Jay Entlich is in his 16th season in charge of the Lady Cougars. Entlich, who started the program in 2004, has posted a 259-56-24 record for a winning percentage of .799. 

CSU returns 23 players from last season's team that went 18-1-2. Seven newcomers join the Lady Cougars in 2019.

About the Embry-Riddle Eagles

Embry-Riddle, members of the Sunshine State Conference, will be looking to build on an 8-8 record from a season ago. The Eagles reached the Sunshine State Conference Tournament semifinals before falling to Barry.

The Eagles have plenty of experience coming back as 18 players and five starters return from 2018. 

In Daytona Beach, Embry-Riddle is unbeaten in its last 11 matches. 

Series History

It will be just the second meeting between the two schools with the Lady Cougars defeating Embry-Riddle 3-0 to kickoff the 2018 season in Columbus. 

Team Notes

• The Lady Cougars have posted an 11-2-2 record in season openers in program history, including winning the previous five.  

• CSU finished inside the top-five in the nation in 2018 in scoring offense (3.62), assists per game (3.14), and points per game (10.38).

• Offensively, 13 players return who tallied a point.

• Columbus State led the PBC in goals-against average (0.74) and was second in shutouts (10). 

• CSU is unbeaten in its last 15 regular-season matches.

Lady Cougars Tabbed PBC Favs

Columbus State was voted as the PBC preseason favorites by the league's head coaches. It is the fifth straight season that the Lady Cougars have been tabbed as the team to beat.

Three Lady Cougars Named to Preseason All-PBC Team

Riley Clark, Madeline Goodfellow, and Kimmy May were named to the 11-player preseason All-PBC team. 

Clark, a 2018 All-American, finished second in the conference in goals (16) and points (39). Goodfellow is one of the strongest defenders in the league helping the Lady Cougars to 10 shutouts. She was also a Google Cloud Academic All-American. May was a postseason hero for Columbus State scoring two goals in the NCAA Southeast Region championship last season. She finished the year with seven goals and 10 assists. 

Lady Cougars in the Polls

Columbus State was fourth in the United Soccer Coaches association preseason poll. CSU has been ranked inside the top-10 since Sept. 4, 2018.

Entlich Among the Nation's Best 

Since starting the program in 2004, Jay Entlich has established CSU women's soccer into a national powerhouse. With an overall record of 259-56-24 at CSU, he is the winningest coach in PBC history. His overall coaching record of 281-72-24 puts him eighth all-time at the NCAA Division II level.

He has coached four PBC Player of the Year award winners and has been named the conference's Coach of the Year in every season since 2014. 
 

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