Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken lost a 3-1 decision to Columbus State Saturday afternoon in a Peach Belt Conference contest.
The Pacers are now 3-5-1 overall on the season, including a 1-2 mark in league play.
Head coach Sue Vodicka's team fell behind 1-0 late in the first half off an unassisted goal by Shauna Griffin. The team held on strong though, heading into intermission trailing by just the 1-0 score.
USC Aiken earned a corner kick in the 52nd minute, but Caroline Gillespie's ball was sent out of the box by the defense. Vodicka's squad had a chance to tie it in the 56th minute, but Megan Smits' shot was just high of the frame.
The Cougars pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 57th minute when Nicole Corcione found Chelsea Person for the score.
The Pacers would not give up as Smits rocketed a shot toward the goal that was stopped by the keeper in the 66th minute of work. It would be nine more minutes of action before either team could muster another shot and Smits missed just wide of the target.
Columbus State netted its third goal of the match at the 80:39 mark, but the Pacers would not give up. After Taylor Simmons subbed into the match for Jenna Beauregard 80:57 into the contest, Simmons delivered just over two minutes later. Smits placed an outstanding ball near Simmons, who quickly one-timed it for the score. However, it proved to be the last shot of the match for USC Aiken.
For the match, Nicole Cranny saw seven shots on target and stopped four while playing all 90 minutes between the pipes. Smits led everyone with three shots, including one on goal.
The Pacers were out-shot 13-6 and had four corner kicks compared to five by the Cougars.
The Pacers return to action Wednesday at 5 p.m., when they host Lander in a PBC contest.
