COLUMBUS – The No. 7 and top-seeded Columbus State University women's soccer team scored a trio of goals in each half to defeat eighth-seeded Georgia Southwestern University 6-0 in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon at the Walden Soccer Complex.

The win moves Columbus State into the semifinal round of the tournament, which will be played at Blanchard Woods Parks in Evans, Ga. Friday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. The Cougars will play fifth-seeded University of North Georgia after UNG's 2-0 win over fourth-seeded Clayton State University.

CSU (17-1-1) scored early and often on Saturday as Lauren Barnes knocked one home in the third minute off a pass near the far side of the field from Brooke Ouimette to put the Cougars on the board. Less than 10 minutes later, Maddy Peterson took on a few defenders before firing a shot for her fifth goal of the season.

It would then turn into the Maddie DeFranco show. The senior scored the next three goals, one in the 18th, 57th and 72nd minute, to register her second career hat trick. DeFranco's first goal came off a deflected shot off the crossbar from Barnes, while her two second-half goals were unassisted.

Emma Beddow capped off the scoring with a goal in the 80th minute in her first match back from a three-game absence. 

Columbus State dominated possession, outshooting Georgia Southwestern (7-8-1) 20-1. CSU had six corner kicks compared to zero from the Hurricanes.

Sara Halilhodzic and Lizzie Hedrick teamed up for their 10th shutout of the year.

COUGAR NOTES
• The Cougars improve to 34-8-3 all-time in PBC Tournament play
• It's the 12th straight season that Columbus State has advanced to the PBC Tournament semifinals
• DeFranco becomes the second Cougar in as many matches to record a hat trick following Sydney Ormsby's three-goal performance against Albany State University last weekend. It was the 22nd hat trick in program history
• CSU's winning streak improves to six, and the Cougars are outscoring their opponents 32-4 over the stretch
• CSU has scored five or more goals in four straight and three or moral goals in 14 matches this season
• Columbus State outscored GSW 13-0 while outshooting the Hurricanes 46-2 over two matches this season