Overtime Goal Gives Columbus State 2007 PBC Women's Soccer Tournament Title

Columbus, GA - Columbus State freshman Jill Walthall said it was the constant instruction of her coaches that led to her game-winning goal in overtime of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game. The score came in the third minute of overtime and gave CSU a 2-1 win over Armstrong Atlantic State.

"The coaches had been hollering at us all day to get to the near post, get to the near post," Walthall said. "Steph (teammate Stephanie Parris) made a good pass and fortunately I was in position at the near post and it went in. It felt really good."

Parrish chased down a loose ball down the right side and made a move around a defender before laying a crossing pass right in front of the goal. Walthall got between Parris and AASU keeper Tracey Mitchell and got enough foot on the ball to get it past her and just inside the far post for the winner. It was Walthall's third goal of the season.

CSU head coach Jay Entlich reiterated Walthall's comments. "We had talked to them the whole game about sealing off that near post and getting someone in there in front of the goal keeper. The passes had been going to the keeper the whole game, but we finally got someone to get to that near post and got a goal," he said.

CSU took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break after getting a late goal in the 43rd minute. Leslie Matthews took the ball from a defender deep in the AASU end and was able to beat Mitchell one-on-one for the score. The goal was her first of the season and could not have come at a better time.

AASU (14-4-1) got the equalizer from super sophomore Kristin Burton in the 50th minute. Burton brought out the proverbial "bend it like Burton" quotes as she curled a corner kick from the right side into the upper left corner of the goal, over the hands of a leaping Monica Sanchez.

"This was another great championship game in the PBC," said AASU coach Eric Faulconer. "The players laid it all on the line and that is all you can ask for as a coach."

Entlich echoed that sentiment. "Our hats go off to AASU. They played extremely well - both teams did and both teams played with a ton of heart. Hopefully both teams will get the opportunity to represent the PBC next weekend in regional play."

Both teams had opportunities to take a lead in the second half, but defenders kept coming up with big plays and the two keepers were able to keep the ball out of the net in regulation time. AASU had four shots in the second half, while CSU had three. The Lady Cougars ended the game with an 8-7 advantage in shots. Mitchell collected two saves and Sanchez one. CSU had an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.

CSU and AASU will now await word on Monday of the selections for the NCAA Southeast Regional next weekend. Both squads have a shot at being host sites for the first round of competition, depending on the seeding to be announced Monday afternoon.

"We talked to our team about not letting this game be some sort of ending point this season. It was one of our goals to win this title, but we have a couple more and we can't forget that we still have some work left to do. We are looking forward to the opportunity of getting into postseason play and seeing what happens and hopefully getting to do that as a host school," said Entlich.

Selections are to go out around 5 PM Eastern Time on Monday. The first weekend of regional play will consist of two three-team sub-regional sites. Games will be played by the two lower seeds on Friday with the regional semifinal games to be played on Sunday. The highest remaing Southeast seed after the sub-regionals will have the opportunity of hosting the Regional Championships and National Quarterfinal games on the weekend of November 16-18.

The 2007 Peach Belt Conference Women's All-Tournament Team:

Brittany Bauschka - North Georgia
Annie Whitley - USC Aiken
Kyle Browning - Clayton State
Lefke Boysen - UNC Pembroke
Stacey Copeland - Lander
Kristin Moss - Lander
Morgan Cobb - GCSU
Daria Owen - GCSU
Kristin Burton - AASU
Alyssa Anderson - AASU
Kellie Bahr - AASU
Kellie Myles - Columbus State
Cortney Norris - Columbus State
Hillary Holder - Columbus State
Most Valuable Player - Jill Walthall - Columbus State