No. 11 Cougars Edge Taylor in NAIA Opening Round

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Junior Grace Winegar scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute to lead the No. 11-ranked Columbia College women’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Taylor University Thursday in the NAIA Opening Round in Hattiesburg, Miss.
 
The goal for Winegar was her third of the season and fifth of her career.
 
Columbia tied a school-record with its 16th-consecutive win and improved to 17-3-1, while Taylor had its season come to an end with a 13-5-2 mark. The Cougars have won 17 or more games six times under head coach John Klein.
 
Columbia struck first in the 10th minute after Abigail Logan found the back of the net to make it 1-0. The Cougars had the 4-2 shot advantage in the first half.
 
Taylor scored at 87:40 to knot the contest, but it was Winegar’s goal just 14 seconds later that proved to be the game-winner.
 
Columbia outshot Taylor 7-5 and had a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks. Victoria Heus made one save and picked up her 17th career win in goal.
 
Columbia takes on No. 5 William Carey in the NAIA Second Round on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1:30 p.m. in Hattiesburg, Miss.
 
NOTES: Columbia has won all three meetings with Taylor … Columbia advanced to the second round for the first time since 2017 and third time in school history … The Cougars are 5-8-3 in 10 all-time NAIA National Tournament appearances.