First half barrage leads Koalas past Lancers

The Columbia College Koalas soccer team scored six goals in an 18 minute period in the first half to down the visiting USC-Lancaster Lady Lancers on Tuesday evening at Younts Soccer Stadium.

Coming off a high scoring output in their last game, the Koalas struggled to get going in the early stages as the visitors made it hard work for Columbia to get any quality chances created.  A sudden outburst, however, made all the difference in the game as the Koalas created chances left and right to put away the Lancers in the first half.

In the 20th minute, Junior Yasurys Peralta picked up a loose ball and drove forward before slipping the ball down the line to Senior Charlotte Daniels, who beat a defender before coolly slotting into the far side-netting to make it 1-0.

Three minutes later it was 2-0, when sophomore Zyanna Giles again capitalized on a loose ball, chipping a delicate through ball over the top of the defense for Senior Courtney Carrier to run on to and finish.  

Junior Madison Lamb then scored her second goal of the season in the 28th minute, nicking the ball off a Lancers defender in the penalty area before poking the ball past the keeper for a 3-0 scoreline.

Senior AJ Gilmore struck from distance for her first career goal, picking up the ball 30 yards from goal before driving the ball over the stranded Lady Lancers goalkeeper to make it 4-0 after 29 minutes.

Brianna Sandoval scored her second of the season off a long ball from sophomore Lindsey Sightler after excellent work from sophomore Venus Sumpter to hold off her defender and allow the ball to bounce through to Sandoval, who dinked the ball into the side-netting for a 5-0 advantage.

The Koalas finished the goal barrage and the scoring for the game in the 38th minute when Sumpter poked home an excellent cross from first-year Jade Moran to make it 6-0.

The defensive unit of Theresa Chambers, Peralta, Sightler, first-year Jaylin Wheeler, first-year Taylor Merner, and Lamb were all solid in the second half while Junior Aleah Colbert controlled midfield with aplomb.

First Year Cassie Dilback got the start in goal and shared the shutout with fellow first year Misty Honstein and sophomore Jennifer Angeles.

The Koalas (2-1) open AAC play on Saturday when they travel to the Brenau Golden Tigers for a 6PM kickoff.