Columbia College Koalas win AAC Lacrosse Tournament Championship

Stellar goalkeeping from senior Natalie Dubas and four goals from junior Kendra Blackstock lifted second-seeded Columbia to the 2016 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women’s Lacrosse Tournament championship, defeating top-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan 8-5 on Saturday, April 16. The tournament was held in Montreat, North Carolina.

Blackstock paced Columbia’s offense with four goals and one assist. Columbia College led 5-4 at the half, but Tennessee Wesleyan scored at 2:52 in the second half to pull even at 5-5. Then, Dubas took over. The Koala goalkeeper recorded six of her eight saves in the second half, keeping the Lady Bulldogs off the scoreboard the rest of the game. Meanwhile, Abby Ballard netted a goal at the 7:55 mark to put Columbia up 6-5. Blackstock and Devon Walter each scored another goal to seal the 8-5 victory.

Athletic Director Kellyann Stubblefield said, “We are so proud to have our first ever AAC Championship Team here at Columbia College. Our Women’s Lacrosse Team has worked very hard and made their own success by choosing to work well together to reach their goals. We are very excited for them and wish them all the best at the national championships!”  Columbia College fielded its first women’s lacrosse team only three years ago.

“What a blessing this team is,” said Head Lacrosse Coach Daniel Carter. “Great victories like this don’t happen by chance or just because of how bad we wanted it that day.  This championship started with the families, teammates, coaches, professors, and other support the players have had as youth as well as here at Columbia College.”

Natalie Dubas was named Most Valuable Player for the tournament. Four Columbia College players were named to the All-Tournament Team: Natalie Dubas, Kendra Blackstock, Chelsea Vogleson and McKenna Buckley.

Columbia College earns a chance for the national championship with an automatic berth to the National Womens Lacrosse League (NWLL) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 28–30, as well as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Invitational in Greenville, South Carolina, which takes place May 4–7.

About Columbia College Athletics

Columbia College is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).  The Koalas compete in women’s basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, track and field, cross country, swimming, lacrosse, golf, and softball. For two consecutive years, Columbia College has earned the top spot among 168 member institutions named Five-Star Award winners in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Champions of Character competition. Learn more at gokoalas.com.

About Columbia College

Recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a Best Value Institution and ranked among the Best Regional Universities in the South, Columbia College is a dynamic learning and living community known for its emphasis on leadership development and service. Founded 162 years ago by the United Methodist Church as a women’s liberal arts college, Columbia College also offers evening, graduate and online programs serving both women and men. The College is home to The McNair Center for Entrepreneurism and a nationally renowned honors program led by the 2010–2011 United States Professor of the Year. Learn more at columbiasc.edu or connect with @columbiakoala