From left, Waterloo defender Dani Maurer battles Columbia’s Kennedy Jones for the ball during Monday’s rivalry soccer match. For more photos from the game, visit www.republictimes.net/photo-store. (Alan Dooley photo)

In an early season showdown of rival girls soccer teams, Columbia and Waterloo battled each other through the fog and drizzle Monday night on the WHS turf.

When it was all said and done, the Eagles handed the Bulldogs their first loss of the season, 4-1.

Both teams entered the spring with optimism, and there was plenty of quality soccer talent on display by both squads to back it up.

Columbia (7-1) got out to a 2-0 first half lead on goals from freshman Alison Carr and junior Kennedy Jones. Chloe Graff placed a perfect pass to Carr on the opening score.

The Eagles extended their lead to 3-0 with a second half goal by Lauren Roderick before Waterloo tallied its first score on a goal from senior Sydney Luedeman.

Reagan Mauch put the icing on the cake with another goal for Columbia, making it 4-1.

 Waterloo fell to 3-1-3 with the loss.

Saturday morning, Jones had some fun at the expense of her former team, scoring two goals to lead Columbia past Ursuline Academy, 4-1, at the Parkway Showcase in St. Louis.

Jones, who was selected as Player of the Game, leads the entire St. Louis area in scoring so far this spring with 16 goals and six assists.

The junior played last season for the Eagles after transferring from Ursuline following her freshman year. She led Columbia with 22 goals and seven assists last season, and looks well on her way to blowing past those scoring totals in 2018.

Columbia pulled out a 2-1 overtime victory over Notre Dame on Thursday. Graff scored the game-winning goal for the Eagles. Mauch notched the other score for Columbia.

Columbia posted a 5-0 win over Marquette last Tuesday. Jones scored two goals with an assist. Fae Harrell added a goal and an assist for the Eagles, who host Collinsville on Wednesday and play at Salem on Saturday.

Mauch has five goals and five assists so far this season. Graff has three goals and six assists. Harrell has three goals and four assists.

Columbia’s defense has allowed just 33 shots on goal over the first eight games, with goaltender Rylee Iorio recording three shutouts.

Waterloo cruised to a 7-0 win over Highland on Thursday. Sophomore Paige Kinzinger scored three goals and classmate Sydney Stephens added a goal and two assists in the win.

Waterloo blasted Civic Memorial last Tuesday, 7-0. Luedeman scored three goals with an assist; Stephens added two goals and two assists.

The Bulldogs hosted Belleville East on Tuesday and will battle cross-town rival Gibault at Oerter Park in Columbia at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Luedeman leads the Bulldogs in scoring with six goals and three assists, followed by Stephens with five goals and five assists.

Waterloo’s defense has allowed just 31 shots on goal through seven games, with goaltender Bailey Bosler recording four shutouts.

A young Gibault girls soccer squad is off to an 0-4 start to the spring, including losses to Columbia, O’Fallon and Marquette.

The Hawks will try to upset Waterloo on Saturday for their first victory of the season.