The Lower Columbia College Red Devils delivered a commanding 3-0 shutout victory over the South Puget Sound Community College Clippers at North Lake Stadium in Longview, Washington. The win pushes Lower Columbia to 11-2-5 overall and 9-1-5 in conference play, setting up a high-stakes regular-season finale in the NWAC West Region title chase.
Lower Columbia dictated the flow of play throughout the match, outshooting South Puget Sound 17-5 and holding a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. Maylee Reynolds put the Red Devils ahead at the 27:27 mark of the first half off an assist from Ada Labowitz. Lower Columbia extended its lead early in the second half when Labowitz set up Addison Hartley for a goal at 54:17. Labowitz completed her three-point performance in the 63rd minute by scoring off a pass from Sam Roundtree.
Goalkeepers Leeann Williams, who played 76 minutes and made two saves, and Haley Loll, who recorded one save in 14 minutes, shared the shutout for Lower Columbia.
South Puget Sound keeper Dariana Calix Villegas made two saves on five targeted shots across 90 minutes.
Lower Columbia also held a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks, while match officials issued four yellow cards to Lower Columbia and two to South Puget Sound.
Following the result, Lower Columbia remains tied with Highline at 32 points atop the West Region standings. Both programs have clinched berths in the NWAC playoffs, but the top seed receives a crucial opening-round bye in the postseason tournament.
For Lower Columbia to claim sole possession of first place in the West Region, the Red Devils must beat Clark College in Vancouver on Saturday while Highline drops points by drawing or losing to Tacoma Community College. If both Lower Columbia and Highline win their respective games on Saturday, the two programs will finish tied at the top of the standings, bringing NWAC tiebreaker criteria into play to determine the region's top seed.
Prior to kickoff, Lower Columbia celebrated Sophomore Day at North Lake Field, honoring their departing second-year student-athletes in a special pre-match ceremony. The program recognized sophomores Addison Hartley, Raelie Guizzotti, Marseille Edwards, Sam Roundtree, Payton Bullmore, Zoe Ernst, Annabelle Rogers, Maylee Reynolds, and goalkeeper Haley Loll for their leadership, dedication, and contributions to Red Devil soccer both on the pitch and in the classroom.
