COLUMBUS – No. 3-ranked Columbus State Women's Soccer welcomed No. 19-ranked Catawba (N.C.) to the Walden Soccer Complex on Wednesday afternoon for the second top 25 clash of the season, this time on familiar ground.
 
The Lady Cougars (8-0-1) came out on top over the Indians (6-1-3) in a thrilling 3-2 victory. CSU remained composed enough to claw back from a 2-1 deficit in the second half, ultimately holding on for the win.
 
First Half
 
Wednesday's match opened with some intensity early, as both teams were physical and full of energy. Each side traded possession and went back and forth with no real opportunities in the offensive third until the 15th minute.
 
After a missed shot from Emma Beddow at the 14:18 mark, the Lady Cougars broke the scoreless draw at the 15:19 mark. From midfield, Vanessa Aviles placed a perfect ball forward to Beddow who dished it off to Abigail Akerson for the 1-0 advantage.
 
Sarah Hungerford registered a shot on goal and nearly found the net, but Ashley Hughes produced a great denying effort for Catawba. Moments later, the visitors leveled the match in the 24th minute with a header from Bree Ehmer landing in goal with an impressive overhead flick from Kylie Morin.
 
The CSU attack pressured the defense of Catawba several times during the rest of the half yet could not find a go-ahead score. Mia Robinson's attempts towards goal in the 27th minute and the 41st minute were thwarted by Hughes.
 
Lizz Forshaw ripped a shot toward goal and knocked the woodwork which fortunately for the visitors, kept the draw intact. The half would end with a 1-1 scoreline as the Lady Cougars held a 7-1 shot advantage with four on frame.
 
Second Half
 
CSU recorded the first two shots of the second half with Faith Knoedler's shot on goal being saved from Hughes. Catawba threatened with a shot in the 53rd minute and eventually caught the Lady Cougars on their heels in the 55th minute, as Ehmer netted her second of the match to take a 2-1 lead.
 
Heidi Harris was forced to make a save in the 56th minute with the visitors ramping up the pressure. Over the course of a few minutes, Columbus State would go on to rip three shots toward goal, but all three landed off target.
 
The Lady Cougars eventually found the back of the net in the 67th minute as Beddow hit a perfect bending shot towards the side netting and past the keeper for the equalizer. Beddow nearly knocked in the go-ahead goal in the 70th minute with another left-footed shot aimed towards the far-end of the goal, but the shot cracked the top woodwork and deflected away.
 
CSU continued to lay the pressure towards the visiting keeper with Akerson ripping a shot from outside of the 18-yard box in the 75th minute which was denied by a diving save from Hughes. The Lady Cougars took advantage of a set piece in the 83rd minute and managed to dish the ball into the net as Hungerford finished the ping-ponging action for the 3-2 lead.
 
Columbus State nearly took a two-goal lead with Sophia Leal lasering a shot from roughly 25 yards away, forcing Hughes to make another acrobatic save. Fortunately for the Lady Cougars, they managed to hold on tight to the one-goal lead for the win.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Columbus State finished the match with a 17-4 shot advantage, holding a 9-3 shot on goal edge as well
• Beddow bagged her fifth goal and eighth assist on the season, moving to 18 total points with three shots in 77 minutes on Wednesday
• Hungerford tallied her second game-winner of the season and moved to four goals, totaling four shots and two on frame in 60 minutes of play
• Hughes tallied six saves for Catawba while Harris recorded just one
• CSU led 5-2 in corner kicks
• The Lady Cougars move to a 5-2-1 record over Catawba and avenges last season's 6-5 road loss to the Indians
• Wednesday's match was the second top 25 match for the Lady Cougars, CSU is now 1-0-1 versus ranked opponents

Next Up

• Columbus State is slated to travel to St. Augustine, Fla. this weekend for a Peach Belt Conference matchup at Flagler (Fla.) at Noon ET.