Koalas go 1-1-1 in three game week

The Columbia College Koalas soccer team had their busiest week of the season playing three games in only five days this past week and came out of the period with a 1-1-1 record.

On Tuesday afternoon, the team traveled to AAC opponent St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC, for a 1:45PM kickoff.  After the game was delayed for more than an hour, the Koalas came out strong and had good chances early before taking the lead.  Senior Courtney Carrier held the ball up well before slipping it to fellow Senior AJ Gilmore, who smacked the ball past the Knights goalkeeper for her second goal of the season.

Unfortunately, the rest of the game would not be as bountiful for Columbia, as St. Andrews fought back to take a 3-1 lead.  Carrier was fouled in the box in the second half for a penalty, and Senior Charlotte Daniels tucked it away to make it 3-2.  The Knights added another late goal to make the final score 4-2 and drop the Koalas to 2-2 in the AAC.

Two days later the team traveled to Talladega, Alabama, for a non-conference matchup against the Lady Tornadoes.  The Koalas jumped out to a 3-0 halftime lead thanks to a goal for Carrier, Daniels, and Junior Brianna Sandoval, with two assists from Junior Kenzie Moore and one from Daniels.

The Tornadoes responded with a goal shortly after halftime, before Columbia notched two late scores through Gilmore and Carrier on long range strikes, while first year Theresa Chambers added an assist.  The final score of 5-1 was fully deserved for the Koalas and upped their overall record to 5-3.

Columbia returned home to round out the week with another AAC matchup against the Union College Bulldogs.  After a scoreless first half, the Bulldogs got on the board first through a penalty kick in the 50th minute.  Sustained pressure from the Koalas finally paid off with twelve minutes remaining as a handball in the box by a Lady Bulldog gave Columbia a penalty kick of their own.  Kenzie Moore confidently stepped up to find the corner from the spot and even the game at 1-1.

Despite multiple chances from both sides in overtime, neither could find a winner, and the game finished 1-1 with the Koalas moving to 5-3-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the AAC.

Things do not slow down for the Koalas this week as they play two more AAC matchups.  First, they host the Milligan Lady Buffs on Wednesday evening at 7PM before traveling to Reinhardt for a 2PM kickoff on Saturday afternoon.