COLUMBIA, Mo. — Parker Rainwater scored in the 88th minute to lift Columbia College past Williams Baptist 1-0 on Tuesday night at R. Marvin Owens Field and give the Cougars their 12th American Midwest Conference Tournament championship, their first since 2023. Columbia improved to 14-2-2.
Rainwater broke the scoreless tie after Joshua Peterson's corner kick, finishing the play for his fifth goal of the season. It was the only goal in a physical match that included nine yellow cards.
Columbia controlled the first half, outshooting Williams Baptist 5-0 and earning four corner kicks, three of them from Charlie Lafata in the first nine minutes. Goalkeeper Erik Chang kept it scoreless with three first-half saves, on shots from Faraj Shee, Lafata and Freddie Fenton.
Williams Baptist pushed back after halftime, outshooting the Cougars 8-4 in the second half and putting four shots on goal. Columbia goalkeeper Mason Beck turned all four away, including three straight saves in the 58th minute, to preserve the shutout. Chang finished with four saves for Williams Baptist (7-7-2).
The match was tight and physical, with nine yellow cards, five to Williams Baptist and four to Columbia, and 21 total fouls. Columbia was called for 12 fouls to Williams Baptist's nine.
The Cougars have earned an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round and will find out where they will play during the NAIA Selection Show on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m.
