No. 18 Lady Cougars Breeze to 5-0 Victory

by Manny Nieves
September 22, 2012

Aiken, SC – The 18th-ranked Columbus State women's soccer team had an offensive barrage over the final 12 minutes of the first half scoring four goals during that span en route to a 5-0 win over USA Aiken in a Peach Belt Conference match-up Saturday afternoon at the Pacer Pit in Aiken, South Carolina.

It is the third time the Lady Cougars has scored a season-high five goals in a match with the last coming on September 11 versus Shorter.  It is also the first time since October 29, 2005 versus Lander in which CSU scored at least three goals in a match which were netted all by freshmen.

CSU improves to 7-1 on the year and 1-1 in conference action while USCA falls to 3-5-1 overall and 2-1 in league action.

Freshman Nikki Turnbull provided the spark offensively as she notched the first two goals of the contest for Columbus State, the first coming in the 34th minute after the Pacer defense failed to clear the ball out of their defensive side.  She then added another four and a half minutes later when Mary Mancin launched a punt that Turnbull was able to loft over the USCA goalkeeper for her third goal of the season.

Claire Belay continued the outburst drilling a shot from 25 yards out into the upper left corner of the net at the 42:55 mark for her first collegiate goal.  Less than a minute later, Shelby Rolling headed home a Kayla Brown corner kick to give CSU their 4-0 lead heading into the half.

Chelsea Person capped off the scoring in the 65th minute as Turnbull played a perfect through ball and Person calmly placed it in the back of the net.  It was also Person's first goal of her collegiate career as well.

Mary Mancin picked up the win between the pipes for Columbus State improving to 7-1 as she played the first 45 minutes making one save while Meosha Hatcher denied both shots she faced in the second half. 

Ali Edens suffered the loss falling to 3-5-1 as she allowed four goals in 45 minutes of action.  Melissa Westphal played the final 45 minutes surrendering a goal while making two saves.

After the concluding the longest road trip in school history with a  5-1 record, the Lady Cougars will return to the pitch on September 26 when they host Georgia College at the Walden Soccer complex.  Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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