Columbus State upsets second top-10 team with 2-1 win vs. No. 6 LRU

HICKORY, N.C. — Two-time All-American Stephanie Lowery scored the game-winning goal in the 79th minute to give the 11th-ranked Columbus State a 2-1 victory against previously undefeated and sixth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne in a non-conference contest.

Lowery received a pass from Emily Husted from the right side of the field and fired a shot to the lower left corner of the net and notched her second goal of the season. Her first goal in 2012 was also a game-winner versus Florida Southern in the season opener.

The win was a bit more enjoyable for Columbus State seeing that Lenoir-Rhyne has ended CSU’s season each of the past two years in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Despite outshooting the hosts by an 11-3 margin in the first half, the Lady Cougars ended the first 45 minutes of action in a 0-0 deadlock.

COLUMBUS STATE VS. LENOIR-RHYNE
Shots	18	10
Corner Kicks	5	5
Saves	2	8

Just 5:15 into the second half, Blakely Heideman was able to take advantage of a defensive miscue as she gathered a missed clear attempt catching the Lenoir-Rhyne goalie out of position and knocking in her first goal of the season.

It was a short-lived lead as Brianna Belsky took and scored off a corner kick in the 54th minute tying the match at one apiece until Lowery’s late-game heroics.

Columbus State held an 18-10 advantage in shots including a 10-3 edge in shots on goal.

Mary Mancin earned the victory for CSU improving to 4-0 as she collected two saves in the match. Caitlin Scruggs kept her team in the contest making eight saves while allowing a pair of goals in 90 minutes of action falling to 3-1 on the year.

The victory gives the Lady Cougars their second win versus a top-10 ranked opponent this season as they defeated then No. 8 Tampa 1-0 in the final match of the CSU Collegiate Invitational earlier this year.