Late Game Penalty Kick Lifts Johnson (Tenn.) Over Koalas

Knoxville, Tenn.—Rogers Gunner knocked in a penalty kick at the 79:54 mark to lift Johnson University (Tenn.) over Columbia College (SC), 2-1, in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) men's soccer match in Knoxville, Tenn.

Both teams played solid throughout the contest.

Johnson (Tenn.) got on the board first as Isaiah Rowe knocked in the Royals' first penalty kick of the game at the 6:28 mark. 

Columbia College's Oby Vega found the back of the net at the 36:16 mark to tie the game at 1-all.

Neither team would score the remainder of the half, heading into intermission with the 1-1 tie.

Both team defenses were strong through the second half until a late foul by the Koalas set up what would be the game-winner.

Columbia College (2-6-0, 1-4-0 AAC) played one of its most balanced contests of the season.  The Koalas matched Johnson Univ. (4-4-0, 2-4-0) in shots-on-goal with eight.  The Royals had five more overall shots than Columbia College, 23-18.

Columbia College will look to stop its skid, Wednesday, Sept. 6 when they travel crosstown to face interstate rivals CIU in a 5 pm AAC contest.