COLUMBIA, Mo. - William Woods University (6-5-3, 2-1 American Midwest Conference) played its most competitive match against AMC rival No. 10 Columbia College (10-1-1, 3-0) in two years, but the Owls fell 3-0 to the reigning AMC champion Wednesday at R. Marvin Owens Field.
Giving her all to keep her team in the game, William Woods goalkeeper
Belle Boschert (4-4-3) made a season-high 10 saves in 13 attempts, her most since she stopped 12 shots in a 2-2 draw at Ottawa University on Sep. 7, 2022, her sophomore season. Despite the effort by the Owls' senior shot-stopper, they had ten fewer shots on goal (three) than the Cougars; all three of WWU's shots were on goal, and 13 of CC's 21 shots were on goal.
"Columbia is a tough opponent," William Woods women's soccer coach
Lauren Robb said. "I was proud of us tonight. We had to play through some adversity and always had a positive reaction. We'll keep working and hope we get a re-match in a few weeks."
All of WWU's attacking chances came in the first half, but Columbia was the only team to find the back of the net, doing so twice with 13 total shots.
First-team All-AMC defender Delfina Zolesio put the Cougars on top for good, opening the contest's scoring in the 23rd minute when she netted a penalty-kick goal, her ninth goal this season. Riley Porter, who won the most recent AMC Offensive Player of the Week award, her third time receiving the honor this year, doubled CC's advantage before halftime, taking a Zolesio pass and scoring her 13th goal on the year, in the 42nd minute.
Although Columbia led 2-0 at the break, Boschert still stopped most of the Cougars' shots, saving six of their eight shots on goal in the first 45 minutes. The Owls held CC to five fewer shots in the second half, eight (five on goal), but at the same time, WWU failed to tally a shot.
Zolesio finished her match-high four-point performance, providing Delaynie Brown's 69th-minute goal, her third this season that sealed the 3-0 victory for the host Cougars.
Hannah Loethen put two of the Owls' three shots on goal, and fellow midfielder
Megan Hughes had a shot on goal for WWU.
Columbia goalkeeper Natalie Allison (7-0-1) notched her fourth shutout this season, posting three saves, her most since the Cougars' 3-0 win at No. 12 John Brown University on Sep. 21, when she made eight stops.
The Owls have a quick turnaround before they take on another AMC team in Columbia, Stephens College (2-8-2, 1-3 AMC) at 7 p.m. Friday at Battle High School's soccer field; it'll be the Stars' Senior Night.
