Columbia, Mo. – Grant Buer scored the game-winning goal in the first half, Alex Gatto added an insurance goal in the second, and the No. 24-ranked Columbia College men's soccer team defeated Mission University 2-0 in an American Midwest Conference match Saturday afternoon at R. Marvin Owens Field. Columbia improved to 10-1-2 (2-0-1 AMC), while Mission fell to 1-7-1 (0-1-0 AMC).
Columbia controlled the first half, putting up 15 shots and seven corner kicks, but needed until the 39th minute to break through. Buer scored his eighth goal of the season at 39:14, finishing unassisted for a 1-0 lead. Buer had come close earlier, with a shot saved at 5:20 and a header saved at 9:51.
Gatto doubled the lead at 67:25 with his second goal of the season, finishing on an assist from Joshua Peterson.
Columbia outshot Mission 31-1, held a 12-1 edge in shots on goal and won the corner kick battle 18-0. Mission's only shot came from Andrey Smolin at 44:26, and Mason Beck made the save to earn the shutout.
Gatto led Columbia with six shots, three on goal. Buer had five shots, three on goal, and Charlie Lafata added four shots, three on goal. Faraj Shee and Peterson each took four shots, and Peterson also recorded the assist.
The Cougars travel to Bellevue, Neb., for a match against Bellevue on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 5 p.m.
