Koalas Fall to Cross-town Rivals CIU

Pictured: Ethan Poungthana

Columbia, SC (10-4-22) – Columbia College men's soccer team fell to crosstown rivals CIU, 8-1, in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest Tuesday evening in Younts Stadium.

With the loss, the Koalas fall to 0-7-1, 0-6-0 in the AAC. The Rams improve to 6-1-2 overall and 5-0-1 in the AAC.

CIU set the tone early, putting up two goals within the first 12 minutes to take the early 2-0. Fabio Bender scored off a Gabriel Rokov assist at 9:38, and Praise Kabwe scored off an assist by Bender to take the early lead.

Columbia College's defense picked up its intensity, holding the Rams scoreless for the remainder of the half.

The Rams started the second half much like the first, scoring two quick goals in the first 10 minutes. Sonny Quintanilla scored a goal off the assist by Bender at 48:07. CIU added a goal at 49:27 to take a 4-1 lead into the half.

Ethan Poungthana scored the Koalas' only Koala off a Ratesh Leach pass at the 60:20 mark.

The Rams countered a little over three minutes later to push its lead back to four and scored three additional over the next twenty minutes en route to the 8-1 victory.

The Koalas will return to action this Saturday, Oct. 8, when they host Reinhardt in a 5 p.m. AAC contest at Younts Stadium.