Koalas Open Season with Victory

It was a feeling of deja vu for the Columbia College women's soccer team as weather threatened to cancel their second straight game to open the season on a stormy Wednesday evening at Younts Stadium.

After having their first game at Trinity Baptist called early due to weather while holding a healthy lead, the Koalas were excited to make it onto the field after a two and a half hour delay against the Screaming Eagles.

The delay was troublesome for both teams in the early going, however, as it took some time for both teams to settle into the match.

The Koalas struck first in the 26th minute when Jordan Myers played a cross that Elizabeth Schossler poked past a defender to Madison Stewart, who calmly finished with her left foot into the near post for a 1-0 lead.

Stewart then turned provider in the 37th minute when her hooked pass over the top was controlled by Myers, who burst past two defenders before smashing the ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 to Columbia.

Columbia scored again in the 52nd minute when, after good reading of play from defender Sammie McDaniel, Schossler played a ball through for Isabella Gurrieri, who poked it past the keeper and then into the empty net to make it 3-0. 

The Eagles would answer with their only shot in the second half in the 57th minute to cut the lead to 3-1, which turned out to be the final score of the game as lightning meant the game lasted only 77 minutes.

In addition to McDaniel, Lakelee Aldrich, Kylie Stewart, and Adrianna Machado played very well defensively, with Amorie Kostelak picking up a first half shutout and the win.

Columbia returns to action on Saturday when they travel to Kentucky Christian for a 1PM kickoff in their AAC opener.