Parkville, Mo. – This afternoon the Columbia College women's soccer team traveled to Parkville, Missouri, to take on the Park (Mo.) University Pirates in the AMC Championship Final. The Cougars were able to avenge their only loss of the season and defeated the Pirates by a final score of 3-0 to solidify their spot in the national tournament.

The Cougars came out in the first half and dominated the possession from the opening whistle. They attacked relentlessly at the Pirates defense outshooting Park 7-0 in the first 20 minutes of the game including four shots on target. Columbia's best chance of that stretch came when the Cougars worked the ball deep into the Pirates half. They passed the ball around in the box before it bounced to Lucy Kingsley who had the Pirates keeper beat. However, the Park defender, Laini Brown, came out of nowhere to make an incredible save on the shot and keep and the score tied at zero.

Columbia College continued to apply the pressure and were finally able to get on the board with just under 13 minutes to play in the first half. The goal came after Yuko Shinomiya played a ball to Katie Cook who was able to swing a cross into the center of the box. The cross was broken up by the Park defender but bounced to Molly Klein who knocked it into the back of the net for her eighth goal of the season. The Pirates bounced back quickly and nearly scored before the half ended but were unable to capitalize and found themselves down 1-0 heading into the halftime break.

It did not take long for the Cougars to score in the second half going up 2-0 just two minutes in. Lucy Kingsley had the goal for Columbia College after Kelsey Mirts found her on the left side of the field. Kingsley cut the ball back into the middle of the field and ripped a shot from just outside the box past the Pirates keeper for her 11^th goal of the season. Kelsey Mirts added a third goal with just over 25 minutes left in the game after she was able to dribble past the Pirates keeper and slide it into the back of the net for her 14^th goal of the season. The lead stood for the rest of the game as the Cougars were able to pick up their first ever win at Julian Field.

Flavia Rosado was in goal for the Cougars recording one save in the match. This was the 10^th shutout in a row for Columbia College and Rosado's ninth solo shutout of the season.

Following tonight's championship game, the American Midwest Conference named 19 student-athletes to its Women's Soccer First-Team All-Conference team, including six selections for Columbia College. Taylor Hagenhoff, Jordan Poire, Laurie Frew, Tiffany Weaver, Kelsey Mirts, and Flavia Rosado received first team honors. Mirts was also named the conferences Freshman of the Year after having an incredible first season with Columbia College scoring 14 times and racking up 10 assists. Additionally, Christina Conley was named to the AMC Champions of Character Team.

The Cougars will play in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament on Saturday, November 19^th. They will find out who and where they will play this Monday, November 14^th when the NAIA announces the tournament brackets at 11 a.m.