#16 Cougars End Level with #14 Vikings

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College women’s soccer team, ranked No. 16 in the most recent NAIA Top-25 poll, took on the No. 14 Vikings of Missouri Valley College tonight to continue the Cougars’ tough non-conference schedule.

The Vikings got on the board first with a goal from Llara Llorente to give Missouri Valley the 1-0 lead at the half.

The Cougars turned on the offensive pressure in the second half, doubling their shot count from the first half.

A well-placed ball from Jewel Morelan found the feet of Delfina Zolesio Fernandez Blanco. Delfina’s great first-touch put her one-on-one with the Viking goalkeeper where she was able to convert, bringing the score level, 1-1.

Barely six-minutes later, the Cougars had a cross placed in by Emilia Zolesio Fernandez Blanco that bounced off the head of Macie Lucas and was picked up by Morelan who was able to capitalize, pushing the Cougars ahead 2-1.

The remainder of the second-half saw the Vikings keep the pressure on the Cougar defense. In the 88^th-minute, a well-placed shot from Nicoline Hansen made its way between the out-stretched hand of Kate Marshall and the crossbar, bringing the game level 2-2 with under two-minutes of play remaining.

As time expired, the Cougar defense held off one more shot from the Vikings, ending the match in a 2-2 tie.