COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's soccer team put forth a solid performance at No. 8 Columbus State, but the host Cougars won the contest by a 5-1 score.

The Pacers are now 2-6 on the year and 1-3 in league play. The Cougars are 9-0-1 overall and 4-0 against conference foes.

Head coach Tina Murphy's team held the high-scoring offense of Columbus State scoreless in the first half of play.

In the third minute of action, Baylea Payne rocketed a shot on frame, but it was stopped by the keeper. Two minutes later, Mary Cecil turned away the Cougars offense, keeping it at 0-0.

Over the next five minutes, Cecil stopped two more shots. The Cougars nearly got on the board at the 14:00 minute-mark, but the attempt hit the left post.

Payne recorded her second shot on goal at the 23:21 mark, but it too was saved. Cecil had two more saves the rest of the half as the teams were scoreless heading into the second period.

The Cougars broke through with a goal at the 48:16 mark for a 1-0 edge. Less than a minute later, they made it 2-0. CSU pushed the margin to 3-0 in the 70^th minute and increased it to 4-0 in at the 73:04 mark.  

Murphy's team broke through in the 85^th minute when Charlotte Mannella blasted a shot that found the back of the net near the upper right of the frame.

CSU made it a four-goal match with a score in the 88^th minute for the final tally.

For the match, Payne registered three shots, including two on goal. Mannella's lone shot was good enough for a score.

Cecil played all 90 minutes between the pipes. She stopped eight shots in the contest.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they host Georgia College at 3 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.