Box Score Columbia, Mo. - The Cougar women's soccer team moved a step closer to the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Tournament championship with a 3-1 semifinal victory over Missouri Baptist University on Monday night. Columbia, the tournament's top seed, improves to 15-2-1 overall on the year after avenging a 2-1 regular season loss to the Spartans back on September 24^th. The Cougars have not lost since that game and have now won ten straight.

Both squads battled sloppy field conditions in the first half, with the lone score of the period coming from MacKenzie Knepper in the 16^th minute. Columbia outshot Missouri Baptist 10-1 in the first 45 minutes and led 1-0 at halftime. Coming out of the halftime break, the Cougars took a two-goal advantage as Kelly Ross found the back of the net in the 52^nd minute. Stephanie Hale would put Columbia up 3-0 with a goal in the 80^th minute and that was more than enough for Cougar defense. The Spartans were able to avoid the shutout with a late goal by Carly Hempel at the 87:44 mark.

Columbia dominated the match with a 17-3 shot advantage, including 11 shots on goal. Erica Ramirez earned her 12^th win of the year in goal for the Cougars.

Columbia will host No. 2 seed Park University on Thursday, November 14^th with a chance to claim the program's first ever AMC Tournament championship. The Cougars defeated the Pirates 7-1 in their regular season meeting back on October 17^th. Match time is set for 5:00 p.m. at R. Marvin Owens Soccer Stadium.