Koalas Take Down Lancers in Road Opener
Isabella Gurrieri (FR) scored the game winner for the Koalas
The Columbia College Women's Soccer team evened their record at 1-1 in their road opener as they took down the USC-Lancaster Lancers 5-0 on Friday evening.
After a slow start to the game where the Koalas created chances but couldn't find the back of the net, it took until the 21st minute for the deadlock to be broken. Freshman Jordan Myers took a corner which found fellow freshman Isabella Gurrieri, and her backheeled finish beat the Lancers keeper to make the score 1-0.
Just 11 minutes later it was 2-0, as Junior Madison Stewart scored her first goal as a Koala from 12 yards out after a cutback from Myers from the endline. Despite holding a 21-3 shot advantage in the first period, the Koalas were unable to add to the scoreline and went into halftime with the 2-0 lead.
The second half was slow to start again as the Lancers dealt with the pressure from the Koalas well, and it took until the 62nd minute for Columbia to add to their lead. Myers was again the architect, as after a pass from Brianna Sandoval, she drilled a ball into the middle which hit a Lancers defender before rebounding off the post and goalkeeper and eventually trickling into the net for an own goal.
Madison Stewart then turned provider in the 70th minute as her through ball found Myers on the left wing and the freshman cut inside before firing past the keeper to make it 4-0. Sophomore Lakelee Aldrich picked up her first assist of the season seven minutes later when she found Myers, who dribbled past a couple of Lancer defenders before slotting the ball home to make it 5-0.
In goal, Sophomore Emma Parker and Junior Mistify Honstein combined for the shutout, while Aldrich and freshman Sammie McDaniel had standout performances along the back line.
For the game, the Koalas outshot the Lancers 31-8. They return to action on Wednesday, September 8th when they travel to Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa, GA, for a women's/men's doubleheader at 5 and 7PM.