PREVIEW: #19 Women’s Soccer focuses on regional showdown with #3 Columbus State

Columbus, Ga. —- Two of the top ranked women's soccer teams in the Southeast region clash on Wednesday afternoon, when 19th-ranked Catawba travels to 3rd-ranked Columbus State. 

THE MATCHUP

- Who: #19 Catawba (6-0-3, 4-0-1 SAC) at #3 Columbus State (7-0-1, 2-0-0 PBC)

- Where: Walden Soccer Complex, Columbus, Ga.

- When: Wednesday, Oct. 9, 1 p.m.

- How to follow: Watch | Live stats | Tickets

THE HISTORY

- Columbus State leads all-time series 4-2-1

- CSU has won all four meetings in Columbus

- Five of seven meetings have been against a ranked Columbus State squad

- Wednesday marks the third straight matchup with both teams nationally ranked

ANOTHER SAC DPOW

- Lillie Rusher earned WePlayed Sports SAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after she notched the game-winner and an assist in the 5-1 win at Anderson

- Catawba has had three SAC Defensive Players of the Week through five weeks this season

- The Catawba Indians had just one Defensive Player of the Week last season, with five of the first seven Offensive Players of the Week

ALL-OUT BLITZ

- Catawba recorded the most goals it has scored in a half this season with a four-goal output in the first half of Saturday's win at Anderson

- After scoring three goals in the three-game draw streak, the Catawba Indians have exploded for 17 goals over the last four games

- Saturday's five-goal output did not include Catawba's two leading point-recorders Bree Ehmer and Kyle Morin

IT'S (DAR)BO TIME

- Upon moving up the formation to forward from defense, Lauren Darbo recorded points in three straight games

- The USC Upstate transfer netted goals at Lincoln Memorial and versus Limestone

- Catawba has recorded 4.25 goals per game since the move, up from 2.4 goals in the previous five games

FLASHBACK: A FRIDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS SHOW

- Catawba and Columbus State's matchup in 2023 saw 33 shots and 11 goals scored 

- Then-11th-ranked Catawba led 17th-ranked Columbus State 5-1 14 seconds into the second half on Sydney Jimmo's penalty kick

- Three unanswered CSU goals brought the deficit to a single goal, but Catawba held the Cougars scoreless for the final seven-plus minutes to hold on for the win

SCOUTING THE COUGARS

- Columbus State sports the top scoring offense in the country, averaging a staggering 6.38 goals and four assists per game

- Despite all of the goals, CSU is a balanced attack, with Michelle Medina and Ui Suzuki tying for the team lead with six goals apiece; 11 players have scored three goals or more this season

- The Cougars last time out was a 17-0 shutout win over Albany State

- Columbus State and SAC foe Lenoir-Rhyne drew 2-2 on Sept. 25 before a ten-day hiatus from game action due to the effects of Hurricane Helene

UP NEXT

- Catawba returns to SAC action on Sunday, traveling to Tusculum for a 2 p.m. start