COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU women's soccer took the pitch Saturday, Sept. 23, to host the Brenau University Golden Tigers (Ga.) in a Appalachian Athletic Conference match. The Rams hold a 3-2 record against the Golden Tigers and have not recorded a loss to them on their home turf. Two goals in each half gave CIU the victory tonight, extending their season record to 4-3-1 and AAC record to 3-2-1. 

Match Summary: CIU put immediate pressure on the Golden Tigers, forcing the ball into their defensive end in the first minutes of the contest. However, the first scoring attempt came from Brenau, but defender Amber McKinley cleared it. From here, both teams traded the ball up and down the field. 

Brenau's defense stopped a Rams scoring opportunity from a throw-in from Chloe Battaglia. The game's first shot came shortly after, with Thais Roberto's shot going high. Lily Jackson attempted a cross that the Golden Tigers' backline cleared out. Brenau's first shot of the game also went high, keeping the score 0-0. Callie Rowe took her first shot of the game just one minute later but it also sailed it over the goal. 

Roberto got the Rams on the board (12:38) off an assist from Marisa Dill. Brenau quickly responded and took the ball downfield, but Olivia Young stopped their attempted cross. Just 19 seconds after the goal from Roberto, Callie Rowe found the back of the net off a long assist from McKinley. 

Shortly after, CIU found themselves with another scoring opportunity off of a free kick from Dill, but the header from Mercy Berkemeyer went high. The Rams continued to pressure Brenau's defense with a cross and two corner kicks, but they could not capitalize and extend their lead. 

Brenau found themselves within scoring distance on a free kick, but the shot was blocked by McKinley once again. Jackson attempted another cross that was cleared by the Golden Tiger's backline. Brooke Monfils picked up her second save of the half to keep the score 2-0 after the first frame. 

The second half started in Brenau's defensive end, with CIU controlling the ball. The Rams came close to scoring off a free kick from Dill, but Berkemeyer's header effort went wide. Jackson took another shot that went high, but she found the back of the net (58:25) off an assist from Mazzie Leos to extend the Rams' lead to 3-0. 

Monfils recorded another save to keep the Golden Tigers off the board while CIU's offense kept attacking. Jackson recorded another saved shot, and Dill's went wide. The Rams backline also played a big role in preventing a Brenau goal after clearing a free kick and McKinley saving a shot. 

CIU came close to finding the back of the net off of a corner from Haley Hernandez, but McKinley's header went high. They could also not capitalize on Leos' free kick but forced another corner kick. Both teams kept attacking, with fouls and cards being handed out. Hernandez drove the nail into the coffin, scoring her second goal of the year (87:34) to give CIU the 4-0 victory. 

CIU outshot Brenau 15-7, with Jackson leading with four and Rowe with three. Monfils had an impressive night in the goal with four saves and no goals allowed. 

Hear from Thais Roberto postgame: 

Up Next: CIU heads to North Carolina to take on St. Andrews University on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 2:00 p.m. EST.