Columbus State Advances to Title Game With Hard-Fought 1-0 Victory over GCSU

Columbus, GA - Columbus State got a goal from Kellie Myles in the game's 52nd minute and made it stand, taking a 1-0 win over Georgia College & State University in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals. CSU advances to face Armstrong Atlantic State, 3-1 winners over Lander in Friday's first semifinal, in Sunday's championship game. The championship is a rematch of the 2006 final which CSU won on penalty kicks.

GCSU played an inspired game from the start, going toe-to-toe with CSU for the entire 90 minutes. The Bobcats out-shot CSU in the game 12-9, repeatedly pressuring the Lady Cougar defense in the second half. GCSU saw its best chance to score in the game's 48th minute. Daria Owen took a free kick from just outside the box after a CSU foul and her driving kick to the left side of the goal hit the cross bar and caromed away. The Bobcats got the rebound off that miss and Jamie Nevin's redirect sailed high, leaving the game scoreless.

The Bobcats had a rare defensive lapse that led to the CSU score. After a Cortney Norris throw-in, Lindsey Morgan got away from the defenders and found Myles all alone in the box. Myles went one-on-one with GCSU keeper Mary Rob Plunkett and was able to beat her to the left side of the net for the game's only score.

Plunkett, an All-Conference performer, collected five saves in the game, while her CSU counterpart - also an All-PBC selection - Monica Sanchez collected three saves. The Lady Cougars led in corner kicks by a 5-2 margin. GCSU committed 17 fouls to 10 for CSU. There were two cautions issued in the game.

CSU (16-3-1), the top seed in the PBC Tournament, got its eighth consecutive win and seventh straight shutout. The Lady Cougars earned their way into the tourney final for the third consecutive year after winning the regular season title - again for the third straight season. AASU, the second seed, defeated Lander for the second time this season and reaches its second consecutive tournament championship game. Kickoff is set for 2:30 PM at the CSU Complex.