The Belmont Abbey women's soccer season came to an end today as the Crusaders lost in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament with a 2-1 loss to the host Columbus State Cougars. The Crusaders end their season with a mark of 12-10-1, while Columbus State advances to the Regional Final with a record of 18-3-1.

The two teams met in the regular season, on September 19, with Columbus State earning a 2-0 victory at Alumni Field. Today's win gives them a 4-0-0 mark against the Abbey all-time. This was the first meeting between the two schools in the NCAA Tournament.

Columbus State outshot the Abbey 25-6 but it was the Crusaders that scored first. Laura Shelton headed the ball ahead to Meghan Philp in the box, who headed in the pass past Mary Mancin at the 15:46 mark for her team-leading eighth goal of the year. It was the Crusaders first goal against Columbus State in the all-time series.

The lead lasted 20 minutes, as Columbus State gained the equalizer at the 35:16 mark as Casey Davis chipped a pass to Claire Belay. Belay ran down the pass and beat Hannah Kohls to the lower left corner to deadlock the game at one.

The contest remained tied through the end of the first half, but Columbus State moved ahead for good in the 49th minute. After an Abbey foul inside the box Stephanie Lowery scored on the ensuing penalty kick to put the Cougars ahead to stay, and that would be the final.

Philp, a freshman from Houma, Louisiana and a third-team all-conference selection, becomes the first Abbey freshman since Natalie Hernandez in 2003 to lead the team in goals scored.

Belmont Abbey advanced to the NCAA Tournament's second round for the first time since the 1999 season, and its record in the NCAA Tournament all-time is now 3-6.