Box Score Springfield, Ill. - The Cougar women's soccer team defeated Benedictine University at Springfield 7-0 on the road on Tuesday night in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) opener for both squads. With the win, Columbia improves to 4-1-1 overall and 1-0 in league play.

After eleven scoreless minutes to begin the match, the Cougars struck for back-to-back goals in the 12^th and 13^th minutes. Junior Sandra Mendonca got Columbia on the board with her third goal of the season at the 11:27 mark. Junior Amanda Caldwell notched her first score of the year just 54 seconds later for a 2-0 Cougar advantage. Rylee Bruhn assisted on the goal. Columbia would double their lead on a pair of goals by Mendonca in the 26^th and 28^th minutes. Bruhn picked up her second and third assists of the contest on the two scores. The Cougars logged 19 shots, including 14 on goal, through the first 45 minutes and took the 4-0 lead into the halftime break behind the first period hat trick from Mendonca.

Carlie Howe and Tori Magaletta each added a goal in the second half as Columbia cruised to the 7-0 shutout victory. The Cougars outshot the Bulldogs 39-3 on the night and Erica Ramirez and Flavia Rosado combined on the shutout in goal.

Columbia will wrap up the week on Friday, September 20^th, when they travel to conference foe Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) University. The Cougars and Hornets will kick off at 2:00 p.m. in St. Louis, Mo.