PEMBROKE – Visiting and eighth-ranked Columbus State used a 36th minute goal, a seemingly never-ending depth chart and an unbreakable defense to push past home-standing UNCP, 1-0, in the Peach Belt Conference opener for both sides Friday evening at Varsity Grounds.

The setback snapped an impressive three-game win streak for UNCP (3-1-0, 0-1-0 PBC) in which the Lady Braves outscored a trio of foes by a combined 9-2. The result marked the third-straight shutout for Columbus State (3-0-0, 1-0-0) who was the preseason pick to win the league's regular season championship in a poll of the 11 conference head coaches.

Twenty players saw action for the Cougars who are coming off an NCAA quarterfinal appearance in 2009. Just 14 players saw playing time in the outing for the Black and Gold. The win pushed CSU's advantage in its series with the Braves out to 7-1-1, while also marking the fourth time in the nine-game series history that a game has been decided by a single goal.

"I thought that the first half was some of the best soccer we have played in a long time," said head coach Lars Andersson. "It is unfortunate that we give up a goal on one simple defensive mistake because I thought that we were the better team in the first half. They were able to rotate 10 subs into the game tonight, versus four for us, and the depth made the difference tonight.

"We came to life in the last five minutes of the game, though, and we had two or three very good chances to pull back level. Columbus State has our number, but every time we go out there and play them, I still feel like we are going to win."

UNCP grabbed eight of the first half's 13 shots, but it was Columbus State that would post the period's only score when Leslie Mathews collected a loose ball and raced 20 yards before finding an open Emily Husted in the penalty area for a close-range strike in the 36th minute. The 1-0 advantage would carry through the final 55 minutes, but not without a serious challenge from UNCP.

The Cougars controlled much of the first 30 minutes of the second half of play, but the Lady Braves came alive to control all of the final five minutes on the clock. Veteran Andrea Collen and newcomer Kayla Colon each recorded quality strikes in the span, but each shot somehow found the waiting hands of CSU goalkeeper Willi Babillis.

UNCP will close out a season-opening five-game home stand on Wednesday when the Lady Braves lace up to host region rival Wingate (2-1-0) in a 7 p.m. contest at Varsity Grounds. Admission to all 2010 UNCP soccer home games is free.