- Michael MacEachern
No. 4 Columbus State outlasts Young Harris 5-3
No. 4-ranked Columbus State University had to rally past stubborn Young Harris College to pick up a 5-3 Peach Belt Conference women's soccer victory Wednesday (Oct. 5) afternoon at the YHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field.
The Cougars improved to 9-1-1 overall and to 5-0-1 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions had their three-match win streak snapped and fell to 3-7-0 and 3-3-0. Young Harris will host the University of South Carolina-Beaufort Saturday (Oct. 8) at noon.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:
Young Harris took a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the match as Alexis Scarpinato converted a through ball from Jhena Ellerbe for her team-leading seventh goal of the 2022 season.
Columbus State got back-to-back goals in a seven-minute streak to take a 2-1 lead on a Rachael Sweigard strike at the 22:09 mark.
The Mountain Lions tied the match at 2 with seven minutes left before the half. Thea Juul's shot ricocheted off the crossbar and Viktoria Einsbor slotted the rebound into the net.
Abigal Akerson scored back-to-back goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half to give the Cougars a 4-2.
Ellerbe cut the lead to 4-3 at the 63:38 mark as she knocked in a rebound of Scarpinato's initial shot. The three goals by the Mountain Lions are the most by YHC in a match against the Cougars in the all-time series (11 matches).
The Cougars got an insurance goal 10 minutes later to take a 5-3 lead.
Columbus State outshot Young Harris 21-10 (13-6 on goal).
Mckenna Peaster and Hayvn Isaac combined eight saves in goal for the Mountain Lions. Peaster stopped five and Isaac posted three more.