Koalas and Rams Tie in Battle of Columbia

Jayla Pugh scored her first career goal for the Columbia College Koalas in the 82nd minute to earn her side a 1-1 draw against cross-town rivals CIU on Wednesday evening at Younts Stadium.

The Koalas were on top in the first half, limiting the Rams to only one shot while generating seven of their own, though none were enough to truly trouble the visiting keeper.

The second half was a more even affair, and the Rams struck first in the 57th minute to take the 1-0 lead.

Roared on by a rambunctious home crowd, the Koalas never stopped working and creating chances and forced a number of quality saves from the Rams keeper off of shots from Madison Stewart and Brooke Piscitello, among others.  After Jordan Myers had a shot saved, the pressure finally told for Columbia and the goal came from an unlikely source.

After a foul on the wing, Summer Dockstader's cross bounced across the box and defender Jayla Pugh was there to head the ball home from just inside the six for her first goal as a Koala.

Late pressure from the Koalas unfortunately didn't lead to a winner, and both teams were left to settle for their first conference tie of the season.

Columbia returns to action on Saturday afternoon when they host conference leading Reinhardt University at 3PM.