COLUMBUS, Ga. – A stunned Nova Southeastern team suffered its first defeat of the season on the road Wednesday against Columbus State. The loss alone was enough to shock the previously unbeaten Sharks, but even more so the way it happened, as the Cougars tallied the game-winner to secure the 1-0 victory as time expired in the 90^th minute of regulation.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Columbus State 1, Nova Southeastern 0
Records: Columbus State (7-6), Nova Southeastern (10-1-1)
Location: Walden Soccer Complex | Columbus, Ga.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Sharks controlled the tempo for much of the first half, owning an 11-5 shot advantage in the opening 45 minutes of play.
• After needing just 1:35 to earn the match's first corner kick, NSU produced the first scoring chance of the afternoon in the third minute, but an Emma Heikkila shot attempt was turned away by the Columbus State backline.
• The Sharks rattled off five more shot attempts in the early portion of the first half before the Cougars finally registered a shot of their own at the 19:59 mark.
• NSU was kept off the board following a pair of saves by Columbus State keeper Sara Halilhodzic, and again came up empty in the 40^th minute after Halilhodzic collected her fourth save of the half on a shot off the foot of Hannah Christophe.
• Still scoreless at the start of the second half, the Sharks continued to threaten the Columbus State defense. However, shot attempts by Emily O'Connell and Myriah Troutman both sailed wide, as the game remained scoreless in the 60^th minute.
• The Cougars were held to just one shot through the initial 33:29 of the second half, yet gathered some offensive momentum in the latter stages of the match, as NSU keeper Natalie Robayna was forced to make two saves in a span of 3:48 to keep the score knotted at 0-0.
• With the clock winding down, NSU's Jessica Bonenclark fired wide from deep in what appeared would be the final scoring opportunity for either side as overtime approached. The Cougars were quick to put the ball back in play, though, and pushed the ball down the left side of the field, with Kimmy May finding Riley Clark for the go-ahead score a mere second before the final horn sounded.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Wednesday marked just the third meeting all-time between the Sharks and Cougars.
• After finding the back of the net in each of its first 10 games, NSU has failed to score in over a span of 208:10.

 STATS OF THE NIGHT:

• Heikkila and Chama Silva recorded a team-high three shots apiece, accounting for six of the Sharks' 21 attempts overall.
• NSU held a 6-2 edge over Columbus State in corner kicks.

UP NEXT:
NSU will jump back into Sunshine State Conference play this Saturday, as it heads to St. Petersburg, Fla. to take on Eckerd. For complete coverage of the action, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_WSoccer.