Columbia, Mo. - The No. 20-ranked men's soccer team of Columbia College took on the Trojans of Hannibal-LaGrange University tonight in American Midwest Conference action. Looking for redemption from an AMC conference tournament loss to the Trojans from last season, the Cougars poured on the pressure the entire match. 

Just 11 minutes into the match, Nick Brandt dribbled down the right side of the field and crossed the ball into the box where Nathan Durdle got a foot on the ball and scored, marking Durdle's first goal of the season. 

The Cougars kept up the offensive pressure and had some solid looks to close out the first half with 12 team shots, to only five from HLGU. 

Early in the second half, Erik Rajoy took a shot outside of the box that was blocked by a Trojan defender but picked up by Nathan Durdle. Durdle took a dribble around another defender and took a shot that made its way past the diving effort of the Trojan goalkeeper, making it a 2-0 Columbia lead. 

The Trojans made a few tough offensive presses midway through the second half. Reigning AMC Offensive Player of the Week Simon Conrad of HLGU bounced a shot over Liam Gibbs and into the net, closing the Cougar lead to 2-1. 

With less than seven minutes to play, Joey Spotanski headed a ball to Nathan Durdle at the top of box. Durdle played it off of his head and then his chest and volleyed the ball into the back of the net, putting the Cougars up 3-1.

As time expired, neither team managed another shot, giving Columbia the 3-1 win. 

Nathan Durdle's three goals tonight are his first three goals of the season. 

With the win, the Cougars improve to 6-3-3 overall and 3-1-0 in AMC play. They next compete against the Spartans of Missouri Baptist University on Saturday, October 15th.