Box Score Columbia, Mo. – The seventh ranked Columbia College men's soccer team was back in action tonight when they traveled to Marshall, Missouri, to take on the second ranked Missouri Valley College Vikings in a nonconference matchup. The Cougars were defeated by the Vikings by a final score of 2-1 and are now 0-2 to start the season.
The Cougars came out in the first half and got off to a quick start as they were able to create a corner kick opportunity in the first two minutes of the game. However, the Vikings settled in over the next few minutes and scored the first goal of the game with 33 minutes to play in the half to make the score 1-0. They continued to control the possession as the half progressed and were able to score a second goal with just under 12 minutes left to play to extend their lead to 2-0. Columbia College picked it up in the final minutes and were able to create a scoring opportunity late in the period but were unable to find the back of the net as the score remained 2-0 heading into the halftime break. The Cougars had three shots in the half with all three on target.
In the second half of the game, the Cougars came out and turned up the pressure. They created two scoring opportunities in the first couple minutes of the half and were finally able to cut the Vikings lead to 2-1 with just over 30 minutes to play in the game. Parker Moon had the goal for Columbia College picking up his first tally on the season off of an assist from Mako Makoanyane.
Following the goal, Missouri Valley picked up the pace and applied heavy pressure to the Cougars back line. However, Columbia College's Ryan Harrisskitt stepped up and made six tough saves for the Cougars down the stretch to keep them alive in the match. Columbia College did their best to tie the game late in the contest but were unable to capitalize as the Vikings held them off down the stretch to hand the Cougars their second straight loss.
Ryan Harrisskitt was in goal tonight for Columbia College making 10 saves on the night.
The men's soccer team is back in action on Friday, September 7th when they travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to take on the top ranked, and defending NAIA National Champion, Wayland Baptist (Texas) University Pioneers in a rematch of last year's NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Quarterfinals match. The game is set to start at 1 p.m.
