COLUMBUS – A clash of two in-state rivals occurred on Wednesday on the grounds of the Walden Soccer Complex as No. 3-ranked Columbus State welcomed Peach Belt Conference foe Clayton State (Ga.) for the 25th meeting between the two programs.
 
The Lady Cougars (10-0-1, 4-0-0 PBC) handed the Lakers (7-1-3, 2-1-2 PBC) their first loss of the season with a late second-half score coming from Emma Beddow. Columbus State established itself as the true CSU in Georgia with the 1-0 victory in Columbus with a great crowd for the "Sea of Red" match on Wednesday night.
 
First Half

Both programs' high-powered attacks were stalled to start the match with Columbus State registering the first shot on goal at the 6:08 mark as Vanessa Aviles' attempt was denied by Clayton State's Trinity Chastain in goal. Over the course of the next 12 minutes Clayton State would go on to take four shots with one finding the target, but Heidi Harris thwarted the attempt for her first and only save of the match.
 
The Lady Cougars would take nine more attempts toward goal over the course of the half, but all missed the mark. Columbus State held a 10-4 shot advantage with both teams recording a shot on goal to end the half in a 0-0 stalemate. Columbus State remained a prominent threat in the half with eight total corners but could not capitalize against a tough Lakers defense.
 
Second Half
 
The Lady Cougars remained a threat in the second half, taking nine shots in total with three landing between the posts. Columbus State's defense tightened up and kept the Lakers' attack from registering a single shot in the second half.
 
Faith Knoedler recorded the first shot on goal of the half in the 57th minute, but the Clayton State keeper denied the potential breakthrough opportunity. Columbus State would take three more shots over the span of the next 17 minutes which included a rocket of a shot from Beddow which ricocheted off the woodwork in the 59th minute.
 
It wasn't until 15 minutes later that the Lady Cougars would get the goal they were looking for in the 75th minute. Beddow finished the pass from Sophia Leal into the net for the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner for the 1-0 lead.
 
Seconds later Elle Henschel nearly made it a two-goal match with a laser knocking off the crossbar. Columbus State finished the half with two more shots which included a Clayton State save from Aviles' shot toward goal in the 79th minute. The Lady Cougars managed to avoid danger down the stretch playing a near-perfect game of keep away in the corners and down the line, holding on for the 1-0 win.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Columbus State out-shot Clayton State 19-4 in overall shots and 4-1 in shots on goal
• Beddow now leads the Lady Cougars in goals with seven scores this season
• Beddow and Knoedler led with five shots and a shot on goal each
• Forshaw and Aviles both notched three shots with Aviles marking two on goal
• Leal notched her fourth assist of the season
• Columbus State led 15-0 in corner kicks
• This is the first time this season that Columbus State has been held to just one goal
• Wednesday's match is the seventh time the CSU defense has held their opponents to single digit shots and fifth time holding opponents to one or less shots on goal
• Clayton State gave the Lady Cougars their third match this season with single-digit shots on goal
• Columbus State shifts to a 22-3 record over Clayton State, moving to a 13-game win streak over the Lakers
• The Lady Cougars are 8-0 at the Walden Soccer Complex this season 

Next Up

• Columbus State travels to South Carolina to take on USC Aiken on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. ET match.