MELBOURNE, Fla. - The No. 2 Columbus State University women's soccer team couldn't overcome a 2-0 deficit, falling 2-1 to No. 20 Florida Tech on Tuesday in non-conference action at Rick Stottler Field. 

The loss is the first of the year for CSU (11-1-1) and snaps a nine-match winning streak.

"Hats off to Florida Tech," stated head coach Jay Entlich. "They have an outstanding team and executed their game plan well.

We will regroup when we get back to Columbus and start preparing for another tough conference match against Clayton State on Saturday."

FIT (5-2-3) didn't waste time moving in front, taking an early lead in the ninth minute when Mayara Queiroz Reis fired a shot from the top left portion of the box over the head of Sara Halilhodzic for the goal. 

The score remained 1-0 until the 57th minute when Reis struck again to put the Panthers up two.

However, the Cougars quickly responded. Nine seconds later, Lauren Barnes found the back of the net to inch the Cougars back within one.

Over the closing minutes, Columbus State put three shots on goal, but Maria Recuero Sanchez was there each time to secure the upset victory for Florida Tech.

Columbus State outshot FIT 10-8 and held a 10-3 corner kick advantage.

UP NEXT
Columbus State returns home to host Clayton State University in a Peach Belt Conference showdown. Kickoff is at 1 p.m., with tickets available here. 

COUGAR NOTES
• It was the first non-conference loss for Columbus State on the road in regular-season place since Sept. 14, 2016
• CSU's streak of scoring three or more goals in a match was snapped at eight 
• The 10 shots for Columbus State was a season low
• All five of Barnes' goals this season have come either in road or neutral site matches 
• It's the first time this season Columbus State has allowed a goal in back-to-back matches
• FIT won the first meeting between the two schools since 2010. CSU now leads the all-time series 2-1-1