Columbia, Mo. – The ninth ranked Columbia College women's soccer team was back on the field tonight when they played host to Midland (Neb.) University in the final game of the 2017 Columbia College Women's Soccer Invitational. The Cougars, who picked up a 4-0 victory in their first game of the season, were able to defeat the Warriors by a final score of 3-2 to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Columbia College got off to a slow start in the game as the Warriors were able to take their opening possession and score in the first 14 seconds of the contest. However, the Cougars responded quickly as they were able to tie the game just eight minutes later when Jordan Poire made a run down the wing before finding Kelsey Mirts on the back post who was able to head the ball into the back of the net for her third goal of the season.
Midland was able to regain the lead with 22 minutes remaining in the first half after working the ball deep into the Cougars end and earning a corner kick. The Warriors took advantage of the corner and were able to head the ball past the Cougars keeper to take a 2-1 lead midway through the half. Columbia College did their best to tie the game before the halftime break but were unable as the Warriors outshot the Cougars 10-4 in the half.
Columbia College came out of the locker room in the second half and were firing on all cylinders as they applied a heavy amount of pressure to the Warriors back line. The Warriors did a great job of keeping the Cougars out of the back of the net for the most of the second half but a handball in the box from a Midland defender gave Columbia a penalty shot. Laurie Frew took the penalty for the Cougars and was able to connect on her second free kick in as many nights to tie the game at two.
Columbia College continued to pressure the Warriors as the half progressed and were finally able to take their first lead of the game with less than two minutes left when they worked the ball around in the Midland box before earning a corner. Molly Klein took the corner for the Cougars and found Laurie Frew on the near post who was able to head the ball into the back of the net to solidify the 3-2 victory.
Madison Boyken and Erin Jones split time in goal tonight as the two combined for four saves on the night.
The Cougars are back in action on Wednesday, August 30th when they travel to Olathe, Kansas, to take on the 25th ranked MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University Pioneers in a nonconference matchup. The game is set to kick off at 3 p.m.
