October 19, 2010

DAHLONEGA, GA – The North Georgia women's soccer team is preparing for their second top-10 matchup in the last four days as the Lady Saints welcome 10th-ranked Columbus State University to town on Wednesday evening for a key Peach Belt Conference matchup.

In a rivalry that was renewed last season when North Georgia shocked then 3rd-ranked Columbus State to hand the Cougars their first PBC loss in over four years, both teams enter Wednesday's game in a must-win situation to stay alive in the race of the Peach Belt Conference regular season championship.

The Lady Saints and Cougars have both fallen to Armstrong Atlantic this season as the Pirates control their own destiny to knock off Columbus State and their five-year reign as Peach Belt regular season champions.

North Georgia has had seven common opponents with CSU this season with the Lady Saints accumulating a 6-1 mark, while the Cougars have put together a 5-1-1 record against the same teams. Columbus State has scored 21 times and allowed three goals against these common opponents, while North Georgia has scored 20 goals and given up six scores.

The Cougars have been ranked in every NSCAA/HendrickCars.Com Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll this season, coming in as high as No. 2 in the country on September 21, before dropping down to No. 12, but Tuesday's poll has Columbus State right back in the top 10 after a three-game winning streak.

North Georgia appeared in their first-ever Top 25 two weeks ago as the Lady Saints rounded out the poll for consecutive weeks before falling out of the ranking on Tuesday. The squad continues to knock on the door as one of eight teams receiving votes in the latest poll.

Columbus State leads the all-time series 5-1, outscoring the Lady Saints 16-3 in those six games. The last matchup between the two programs in Dahlonega, the Cougars were ranked 7th in the country and came away with a 3-0 victory.

Wednesday's much-anticipated matchup between these in state rivals will kickoff at 6:00 p.m. at the North Georgia Soccer Complex. A live video broadcast will cover every second of the action, while live in-game statistics will also be made available at the official home for the Lady Saints Soccer.