CLINTON, S.C. – A career-first goal from Mia Prieto in the waning moments of half #1 and an extra boot from Sloan Spees 20 minutes later for good measure. That's all that the Presbyterian College women's soccer team needed to dispose of Columbia International on Friday night at Martin Stadium by a 2-0 clip, gifting the blue and garnet their first W of the young season.

Unable to get themselves on the board despite two spirited efforts against Furman and Kennesaw State to begin the '23 stretch, PC and head coach Brian Purcell were at last rewarded for their offensive persistence on their way to the victory.

A plus-18 edge in the shots department safeguarded Presbyterian's lead once it was obtained on Prieto's chip-in, while Spees' sixth career score at the 59:28 stamp sealed the deal in what could only be described as a thing of beauty from an extremely difficult angle.

Gaining their first steps toward sizable momentum, the Blue Hose will quickly turn their attention to a flaming Georgia State opponent in Atlanta 48 hours from now. First touch in the Peach State capitol on the 27^th is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
 
FINAL SCORE: Presbyterian, 2 – Columbia International, 0
RECORDS: Presbyterian (1-2) – Columbia International (0-1)
LOCATION: Martin Stadium – Clinton, S.C.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

- Heartily determined to metaphorically get the monkey off their back and secure their first goal of the fall, the Blue Hose knocked on the Rams' door 13 times with a shot opportunity in the opening 45 minutes. The 11^th of those chances dispelled any recent struggles as Prieto found herself in the right place at the right time.

- After a laser from sophomore Lina-Mare Müller was deflected but not totally stopped by CIU keeper Hailey Resetar, Prieto stepped into the fray and swiftly guided the target past the zone with her left leg.

- That connection (officially recorded at the 38:46 mark) took the wind out of the sails for the Rams, although it wouldn't lead to any complacency for Purcell's crew.

- Seemingly out of reach to properly direct the ball to its desired destination – faced with an awkward angle from the right side of the goalie's box – Spees somehow completed the sensational curve and increased PC's advantage to a deuce with half an hour of time on the clock.

- From there, Presbyterian's D was enough to give them their 75^th win as a Division I program. Kelly Hall and Emma Cooke shared time at the keepers' spot to preserve the shutout, allowing the third collegiate victory for the former and a three-save debut for the latter as a freshman.

- Five different PC players registered a minimum of two shots as a scorching midday sun turned to nightfall, including nine combined by the goal-scorers, while the Blue Hose managed a 9-2 lead in corner kick schemes.

- Lauren Clark, Ella Williams, and Lyla Chadd served as the starting back line on Purcell's preventative party, leaving Presbyterian's opponents with only two goals in 270 minutes of action thus far.
 
UP NEXT

- With a controlling W now in their back pocket, the Blue Hose will return to Georgia at the close of the weekend after a prior visit to Kennesaw seven days earlier. This time, the obstacle to overcome will be the Panthers of GSU, a school that has not yet been bested in three meetings.

- A 1-1 tie against Mercer on Thursday somewhat dampened Georgia State's white-hot momentum over the season's first week, considering that the Panthers struck first less than 20 minutes in before the Bears answered with only two ticks left until the first-half horn.

- Nonetheless, GSU presents a dangerous impediment for PC to navigate, a Sun Belt member who obliterated South Carolina State in the season-opener by a 12-0 count before silencing Murray State as well in a 3-0 decision.