MATTHEWS, N.C.  – Columbus State women's soccer took to the pitch at the Sportsplex in Matthews, N.C. on Friday afternoon for the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Semifinal clash against fourth-seeded Minnesota State Mankato.
 
The Lady Cougars (22-1-2) fought hard in the second half versus the Mavericks (18-1-7) but ultimately slipped in a 2-1 defeat in the program's fourth appearance in the national semifinal round for the first and only loss of the 2024 campaign.
 
First Half
 
MSUM registered the first shot which was blocked by the CSU defense at the 2:18 mark. Columbus State notched a shot from Vanessa Aviles moments later, but the Mavericks blocked the attempt. Heidi Harris thwarted an attempt away in the ninth minute and kept the Mavericks scoreless until the 11th minute.
 
Minnesota State Mankato found the back of the net with a solo effort from Addison Clarey, knocking the Lady Cougars on the ropes early in the heavyweight clash that featured the nation's best attack in CSU and the best defense in MSUM.
 
The visitors on the scoreboard poured in two more shots on frame just minutes after the goal with an energized attack that CSU struggled to limit. Fortunately for the Lady Cougars, Harris came in clutch on both attempts with two more saves.
 
The Mavericks nearly went up two goals in the 18th minute with a shot knocking the woodwork and bouncing away before Harris had to produce yet another save in the 20th minute. MSUM held a 6-1 shot advantage in the first 20 minutes of play, giving CSU fits defensively.
 
Columbus State eventually found a glimmer of light in the offensive end of the field in the 23rd minute as Abigail Akerson marked the first shot on goal with a low shot to the corner. Unfortunately, it was thwarted away by Clare Longueville in net for the Mavericks. After some back-and-forth play, Michelle Medina notched a shot in the 31st minute but her attempt was blocked.
 
Minnesota State Mankato went on another tear down the field, ripping five shots off in a two-minute spread. The Mavericks forced a save from Harris in the 37th minute to cap off the spurt of attempts toward frame, building up to an 11-3 advantage in shots.
 
Columbus State responded well in the last five or so minutes of the half with a total of four shots. Three of which were on goal as Medina, Elle Henschel, Anna LaBarbera's attempts were all knocked away by Longueville.
 
The Lady Cougars went into the intermission down 1-0 and behind 12-7 in total shots, falling behind in the first half for just the second time this season. Harris stood firm between the posts for CSU, knocking away five attempts towards frame to limit the Mavericks to just one goal.
 
Second Half
 
Columbus State greatly improved in the second half and showed a lot of confidence coming out of the half. Despite the Mavericks taking two early shots on goal, the Lady Cougars charged over the next 22 minutes to take a 7-3 advantage in shots.
 
Lizz Forshaw sparked the surge with a low shot on goal in the 50th minute followed by a shot on goal from Sarah Hungerford in the 55th minute. Columbus State had a prime opportunity in the 55th minute with a penalty kick given due to VAR. Aviles' name was called for the chance with a perfect record so far this season, but her kick was saved by Longueville to keep CSU away.
 
Coach Jay Entlich would go on to make a few changes in the lineup in the 59th minute to help bring some fresh legs onto the field. Medina re-entered and quickly made an impact with another shot on goal saved from the MSUM keeper followed by Akerson's shot in the 62nd minute bouncing off the right post.
 
With 67:45 on the clock, Coach Entlich made another wave of substitutions which made an immediate impact on the ensuing corner kick. Henschel came off the bench and equalized at the 67:51 mark with a header off the corner cross from Mia Robinson in front of her hometown support to spark a life into CSU.
 
Unfortunately, the Mavericks swiftly responded with a goal in the 71st minute to move into a 2-1 advantage, erasing all momentum from the Lady Cougars. Columbus State would not give up, fighting hard down the stretch.
 
Shots from Faith Knoedler in the 80th and 81st minutes were saved from the keeper while the potential tying goal from Hungerford in the 83rd minute bounced off the woodwork. CSU managed to register tow more shots that missed the mark in the dying moments of the game, but MSUM held on to the one-goal advantage to hand the Lady Cougars their first loss of the season in the national semifinals.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Columbus State finished the match with a 21-18 shot advantage after surging in the second half with a 14-6 edge.
• The Lady Cougars also finished with an 11-10 edge in shots on goal.
• CSU finished with a 6-4 lead in corners.
• Harris finished with eight saves on the day while the MSUM keeper notched 10.
• Henschel recorded 30 minutes of action and notched two shots on goal for her sixth goal of her freshman campaign.
• Robinson marked her fourth assist on the season.
• Hungerford finished with a team-leading four shots followed by Medina with three.

Wrap Up

• Columbus State finishes with a 22-1-2 record, marking the team's first loss of the season in the program's fourth NCAA semifinal appearance.