KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The OUAZ women's soccer team put together a dominating second half to secure a 4-0 win over Columbia International in their second game of pool play at the 2018 NCCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Championship on Tuesday afternoon at the Austin-Tindall Soccer Complex.
 
"Today we started a little slower than we wanted. CIU did a great job of making things hard on us and keeping us from finding a consistent rhythm, but we did a good job of controlling the game," OUAZ Head Coach Skelly Kellar said after the win. "As the game kept continued, we kept getting sharper and quicker."
 
Neither team was able to get on the board in a scoreless first half. OUAZ (13-5-2) made sure that changed in the final 45 minutes as they scored four times to stay perfect at the tournament. Sydnee Busby opened the scoring in the 52nd minute when she tallied her 19th goal of the season on a shot from outside the box that was created by Maddie Myers.
 
It took just 68 seconds for the Spirit to double the advantage as Mariah McDuffy scored from inside the area on a set piece from Crystal Carroll. Paige Murray-Hernandez tallied her second goal of the tournament in the 78th minute when she headed home a cross from Cassidy Chriest.
 
The final score of the game came in the final seconds as Breanna Brumet found the back of the net after being setup with a pass from Busby.
 
OUAZ controlled the action most of the day with a 23-2 edge in shot attempts and holding Columbia International (8-8-6) without a shot on goal. The Spirit put 16 of their shots on goal while also holding a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Busby finished the game with nine shots and five shots on goal to lead all players in both categories. Keana Barrow also had five shots with all of them on frame.
 
Addison Riddle earned her fifth win and third shutout of the season in goal for the Spirit.
 
"I am proud of the girls and their overall performance today," Kellar added. "It was a professional performance, but we will need to do a better job of starting the game against a challenging Trinity Christian on Thursday."
 
The win keeps OUAZ tied atop the Pool A table with Trinity Christian. The two teams will play a de facto semifinal game on Thursday at 10 a.m. MST for a trip to the Championship Game on Saturday at 3 p.m. MST. Today's four-goal differential gives the Spirit the tiebreaker should Thursday's game end in a draw.