Koalas top Rams 3-0 to move to 1-1 in AAC

A fifteen minute onslaught in the latter part of the first half was enough to help the Columbia College Koalas soccer team pick up their second win of the season and their first in the AAC in a 3-0 victory on the road at the Bluefield College Lady Rams.

The Koalas (2-2, 1-1 AAC) pressed the Rams throughout the contest but their defense held firm through the first twenty five minutes despite the continued pressure.  A couple of substitutions and tactical switches finally paid dividends for the Koalas, as Heather Blaszak drove at the Rams defense before slipping the ball to Charlotte Daniels who drove it past the Rams keeper to make it 1-0. It was Daniels' first career goal and also her first game winner. 

Only a few minutes later it was 2-0 to the Koalas, as Ruby Hallam collected a pass from Sarah DiPiazza and cut onto her left foot before smashing the ball into the top corner for the two goal margin. It was Hallam's team-leading fourth goal of the season.

Minutes before halftime it was 3-0, as this time Hallam found Blaszak and she cut past a Lady Ram before firing past the keeper for her first goal of the year.  

Columbia kept the pressure up in the second half, with both Hallam and Blaszak hitting the post and Zyanna Giles, Sarah DiPiazza, and Madeline Matusik all going close for the Koalas. Despite a 28-3 final shots advantage, the score remained 3-0 until lightning was too close to the field of play late in the game and the match was called early.

Giles, Aleah Colbert, Matusik, and Blaszak had particularly good performances for the Koalas, who will look to return a couple more key players over the next few weeks.