FULTON, Mo. -- Weather conditions in Tuesday night's match between the William Woods University men's soccer team and the no. 8 Columbia College Cougars turned downright sloppy at the half as the Owls dropped a 1-0 contest to the Cougars. A rain squall accompanying a cold front moved through at the intermission as the winds picked up by 10 MPH, changing the complexion of the match.
The teams played the opening 15 minutes somewhat cautiously, feeling each other out. The Owls were able to post the first significant chance of the match in the 20th minute, as
Kyle Konigsberg (Simi Valley, Calif.) saw his effort saved by Matt McKenna.
The Owls forced two more saves from McKenna over the course of the first half, but the sides went into the intermission deadlocked at 0-0.
The swirling mist that welcomed the end of the first half turned into a light rain throughout halftime and into the first several minutes of the second half.
The visitors would take full advantage of the conditions in the 57th minute, as Rafael Ramos hit a low, driven shot on goal.
Igor Dos Santos (Sao Paulo, Brazil) tried to come up with the save but wasn't able to get a clean handle on it. The ball squirted loose just outside the six-yard box, where Marko Paunovic was able to poke it in.
William Woods continued to press but was unable to mount a comeback, falling to 3-1 in AMC action and 9-5 overall. The Owls are on the road on Saturday taking on AMC foe Hannibal-LaGrange University. Kickoff for the match is set for 3 p.m.
