Koalas Women's Soccer Team Take Down Screaming Eagles

Kianna Dodge (FR) scored her first career goal in the 5-0 win over TFC

Senior Brianna Sandoval's second goal of the season turned out to be the early game winner as the Columbia College Women's Soccer team ran out 5-0 winners on their trip to Toccoa Falls on Wednesday evening.  

It had been over five years since the Koalas and Screaming Eagles last met, and despite worries about inclement weather earlier in the week, the game was able to go ahead as planned for the 5PM kickoff on the campus of TFC. 

It took nine minutes for the Koalas to open the scoring, as nice build up from Lakelee Aldrich and Sammie McDaniel resulted in Sandoval touching the ball past the keeper and finishing into the empty net to make it 1-0. After the early goal, TFC defended resolutely and made creating quality chances hard for the Koalas despite the constant waves of attack. 

A scoring barrage in the last fifteen minutes of the half broke the game wide open, however, as the Koalas would add three goals before the end of the first period.

Isabella Gurrieri notched her second goal in as many matches when she scored off an assist from Madison Stewart, before Theresa Chambers added her first goal of the season with a header from a Jordan Myers corner.

Gurrieri added her second to tie for the team lead in goals just before halftime, when she again combined with Stewart before powering the ball home left footed to make it 4-0 to Columbia.

The second half began the way the first did, with Columbia creating chances and good defending from the Screaming Eagles, but their resistance would be broken one more time twelve minutes into the half.  Kayann Glass found Sandoval on the left side of the box and her shot hit the post before rebounding out to Kianna Dodge who tapped home for her first goal of the season to make it 5-0 to the Koalas.

Despite intense pressure for the rest of the game, Columbia was unable to add to their lead and the 5-0 scoreline held up as the final result.

In the match, Columbia outshot Toccoa Falls 27-2 with Emma Parker and Mistify Honstein splitting time in goal for the second consecutive shutout for the Koalas.

Other strong performances in the game included Margaret Barfield in defense and Kaylee Barnes and Brooke Piscitello in midfield.

Columbia College returns to the field on Saturday, September 11th at 12:30PM when they open their Appalachian Athletic Conference slate against the visiting Kentucky Christian Knights at Younts Stadium.