COLUMBUS, Ga. – Host Columbus State
scored a trio of goals, including two on set pieces, and limited
visiting UNCP to just a trio of shots as the Cougars ran their win
streak out to four and stayed perfect in Peach Belt Conference play
with a 3-0 triumph over UNCP Saturday afternoon at the CSU Soccer
Complex.
The setback stretched the winless streak for the Lady Braves
(5-2-1, 0-2-1 PBC) who were coming off a 1-1 tie with 11th-ranked
Armstrong Atlantic at home on Wednesday evening. Columbus State
(7-3-0, 3-0-0) strengthened its position at the top of the league
standings with the victory, while also extending its series win
streak out to a trio of games.
UNCP goalkeeper Whitney Beverly surrendered a season-high three
goals, but tallied six saves in the losing effort. CSU netminder
Monica Sanches stopped two of the three shots she faced in tallying
the clean sheet.
“We have given up six goals this season and half of them
have come on corner kicks, so that is something that we are going
to continue to address in practice,” said UNCP head coach Lars
Andersson. “The last goal, I think we all just got caught
up in the moment after a huge save by Whitney (Beverly). Give
credit to Columbus State though. They stuck to a great game plan
and really did the things they needed to do to get the result
today.”
A nip-and-tuck contest throughout the first half, CSU delivered
a dagger moments before the halftime whistle when Megan Honig
headed a ball past Beverly and gave the Cougars a one-goal
advantage at the break. The goal marked the third consecutive game
that the Lady Braves have surrendered on a set piece (six total
goals allowed) and put the exclamation point on a 10-1 shot
advantage for the hosts in the opening stanza.
Judith Ospina converted a questionable penalty kick opportunity
13 minutes into the second period to stretch the Cougar advantage
out to a pair of goals and CSU capped the contest's scoring
with 21 seconds remaining in regulation. Beverly made a phenomenal
save on Brook Snyder's initial bullet shot, but Jill Walthall
would put in the rebound to push the host's lead out to 3-0.
UNCP will return to action on Wednesday when the Lady Braves
suit up to host Mount Olive (2-5-0) in a 7 p.m. contest at Varsity
Grounds. Admission to all 2007 UNCP soccer home games is free.
