COLUMBUS - The fourth-seeded and No. 18 Flagler College broke a 1-1 score with three second-half goals to defeat the top-seeded and No. 7 Columbus State University women's soccer team 4-1 in the second round of the NCAA Championship on Sunday at the Walden Soccer Complex.

The stage was set for an entertaining second half following a late Cougar goal in the first half. In the 40th minute, Vanessa Aviles connected on a header off a Maria Kilset corner to even the score.

However, Flagler broke the match open less than 10 minutes into the final 45. In the 55th minute, Annie Habeeb earned a penalty kick and calmly finished knocked the go-ahead goal in. 

The Saints would then move in front 3-1 20 seconds later on a long-range goal from Andrea Fernandez. 

FC added the fourth goal in the 62nd minute after Fernandez set up a breakaway goal for Josefine Nilsen. 

"Flagler was the better team out there today," commented head coach Jay Entlich. "These were two of the best teams in the nation on the field today, but Flagler out-played us and they deserve this victory."

The Cougars (19-3-1) played from behind for the majority of the match as Flagler struck in the opening minute off a header from Sara Carr.

Flagler held a 13-11 shot advantage, while the Cougars had an 11-6 edge in corner kicks.

MATCH NOTES
• Flagler has eliminated the Cougars from the past three postseasons
• Kilset ended the season with 13 assists, tied for the third-most ever by a Cougar in a single-season
• CSU finishes the season with 19 wins. It's the seventh time in program history that the Cougars have won at least 19 matches in a year
• It was the first loss at the Walden Soccer Complex for CSU this season (8-1-0)
• CSU leads the all-time series 14-4-2 over FC. However, the Saints have won back-to-back matches against the Cougars