Box Score Fulton, Mo. - The Columbia men's soccer team posted a 4-0 shutout victory over NCAA Division III opponent Westminster (Mo.) College on Thursday night. The Cougars, ranked 15^th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, improve to 3-2-1 on the year with the win.

The two squads combined for 14 shots in the opening period, including 10 by Columbia, but neither team was able to get on the board through the first 45 minutes.

The Cougar offense finally got rolling early in the second half as junior Marko Paunovic put the Cougars in front 1-0 with a goal in the 58^th minute. Columbia would break things open just over twelve minutes later as Paunovic found the back of the net two more times in a span of 25 seconds for a 3-0 Cougar lead. Senior Adam McChesney capped off the scoring with a goal in the 77^th minute and Columbia would go on to complete the shutout win.

The Cougars used 20 second half shots to dominate the Blue Jays 30-6 in shots on the night. Senior Matt McKenna logged two saves in the match to earn the win in goal for Columbia and also post his first shutout of the season. Freshman Akihl Noel picked up the Cougars' lone assist of the contest on Paunovic's second goal in the 70^th minute. The three goals by Paunovic marked his first career hat trick with Columbia.

The Cougars will kick off American Midwest Conference (AMC) play on Tuesday, September 17^th when they take on Benedictine University at Springfield. Match time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Springfield, Ill.