GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Ninth-ranked Columbus State University defeated Tusculum University 5-0 in a non-conference women's soccer match Wednesday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
The Cougars (15-1-1) outshot the Pioneers (3-13-0) by a 27-5 margin and had five different goal scorers in the match. Vanessa Aviles finished with a goal and an assist for Columbus State, which led 3-0 at halftime before tacking on a pair of goals in the second half.
Columbus State had 14 shots on goal, while Tusculum's lone shot on target came on a free kick from Yvette Raaijen with just over a minute left in regulation. Tusculum starting keeper Brooklynn Hudgins made four saves in the opening half, with Emma Harriman making five stops in the second half.
Hudgins made her first stop at the fourth minute as she dove to her right to collect a blast from the Cougars' Maddie DeFranco. Hudgins also collected a save in the tenth minute on a shot from 25 yards by Lauren Barnes, and made a save on Aviles while on the ground as the ball rattled loose in the box following a corner kick. However, Columbus State went up 1-0 at 19:03 as a pass from Anna Grady went to DeFranco, who beat Hudgins to her right for her fifth goal of the season.
Tusculum's first shot attempt came in the 21st minute, as Bailey Bylotas just missed the far post from 20 yards. Chayse Stonebraker fired high from 30 yards after a corner kick by the Pioneers in the 24th minute, and Kaitlyn Watson was wide of the far post from 25 yards in the 28th minute for Tusculum.
Hudgins had her fourth save of the afternoon in the 35th minute on a shot from 30 yards by Columbus State's Avery Hanson, but she could only get her fingertips on a blast from 25 yards by Aviles at 37:55, as her fourth goal of the year extended the Cougars' lead to 2-0.
The Cougars would go ahead 3-0 at 42:57 following a Pioneer turnover, as Aviles split two defenders and crossed the ball past a diving Hudgins for an easy tap-in for Lizz Forshaw and her fourth goal of the season. Columbus State went to halftime with a 3-0 lead and a 16-3 advantage in shots over the Pioneers.
In the second half, Harriman came on to play goal for the Pioneers and was tested twice in the 57th minute, making a pair of saves from 15 yards on Michelle Lamorte and DeFranco. Harriman added a stop from distance on Samantha Romaine in the 61st minute, but was unable to stop Barnes at 61:13 as a long pass from Rachael Sweigard down the right side was picked up by Romaine, who crossed in front to Barnes for her seventh of the season and a 4-0 Columbus State lead.
Harriman tacked on two more saves as she stopped Olivia Roth from 15 yards in the 66th minute and denied Sydney Ormsby from the top of the box in the 70th minute. Columbus State would close the scoring with 2:59 left as a long pass from Ormsby sprung Kelly Hendricks behind the defense, and she was able to dribble around a desperate Harriman and put home her second goal of the season.
Tusculum would get a shot on goal from Raaijen with 1:15 left as her free kick bounced in front of Cougar keeper Lizzie Hedrick, who had to jump to deflect the ball over the crossbar. Hedrick came in at halftime for Columbus State starter Sara Halilhodzic, who did not make a save in the first half.
Columbus State had a 14-5 advantage in corner kicks over Tusculum, and the Cougars were called for nine fouls to six for the Pioneers. Tusculum was flagged three times for offsides to once for Columbus State.
Tusculum will host its second straight nationally-ranked opponent on Saturday as eighth-ranked Catawba (13-0-2, 8-0-1 SAC) visits Pioneer Field. The Indians can clinch at least a share of the SAC title with a victory, while the Pioneers will be celebrating Senior Day and will recognize seven seniors prior to kickoff.
