Columbia, Mo. -
Macie Lucas scored a pair of goals in the opening 14 minutes of play to lead the No. 11-ranked and top-seeded Columbia College women's soccer team to a 7-1 win over No. 3 seed Harris-Stowe State University in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Tournament Championship Thursday at R. Marvin Owens Field.
Columbia won its 15th-straight game to improve to 16-3-1, while Harris-Stowe fell to 13-5-1. The Cougars have now won 16 or more games seven times in school history, and the 15-game winning streak is the second longest in school history.
With the win, the Cougars secured their eighth-straight and ninth overall AMC Tournament Championship, and earned the automatic bid to the NAIA Championship. The NAIA Women's Soccer Selection Show is set for Monday, November 14, and first round play begins on Thursday, November 17 at a site to be determined.
It took the Cougars just 48 seconds to get on the board after Lucas found the back of net off a cross from
Jewel Morelan. Lucas was taken down in the box by HSSU goalkeeper Amelie Durupt in the 14th minute which resulted in a penalty kick. She drilled home the PK for her 10th goal of the season and 23rd of her career.
Columbia took advantage of playing a player down in the 27th minute after
Abigail Logan scored from just inside the 18 to make it 3-0. The Cougars outshot the Hornets 10-2 in the first half.
Harris-Stowe got on the board in the 53rd minute on a goal by Kitanna Richards, but
Madeleine Shylanski netted a pair of goals 60th and 69th minute to put the game out of reach.
Kaya Thies (76:03) and
Kailyn Sheehan (79:38) added tallies late in the second half to round out the scoring.
Columbia outshot Harris-Stowe 23-7 and the Hornets had a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Victoria Heus (79:39, four saves, one goal allowed) and
Kate Marshall (10:01) split time in goal for the Cougars.
NOTES: Columbia is making its 10th-straight NAIA National Tournament appearance and has a 4-8-3 all-time record ... The Cougars have won all 13 all-time meetings with Harris-Stowe ... Columbia outscored its opponents 27-1 in the AMC Tournament ... Lucas took over the scoring lead for the Cougars with 28 points (10 goals, eight assists).
