Women's Soccer Defeats Penn 1-0 For Third Straight Win

Saturday, October 8

New York, N.Y.

TBA

Columbia

PENN*

Women's Soccer Defeats Penn 1-0 For Third Straight Win

10/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

By: Columbia University Athletics

NEW YORK - With 1:01 left in regulation, first-year Liz Dantzler scored her second consecutive game-winning goal to give Columbia a 1-0 win over Penn, its third straight win and sixth straight at home.

Played throughout a constant, steady rain and wind, the match was a hard-fought battle that was played primarily in the middle third of the field. After an even first half, Penn (6-3-2, 1-1-1 Ivy League) seemed to grab momentum in the second half, peppering Lion keeper Allison Vespa (CC-Franklin Lakes, N.J.) with seven shots in the first 25 minutes of half before Columbia recorded a shot.

Having denied Penn several opportunities in the early part of the half, Columbia (7-4-1, 2-1 Ivy League) mounted a quiet confidence and built on that as the match seemed to be destined to go into overtime. After Dantzler (CC-Winter Haven, Fla.) returned to the match in the 83rd minute, Columbia controlled possession of the ball and finally broke through against the Penn defense late in regulation.

Aubrey Medal (CC-Westlake, Calif.) won a ball in midfield, fed Meghan Hurlbut (CC-McLean, Va.) who continued the fine string of passes, finding Dantzler crossing from the middle to the left side. Dantzler calmly dribbled past a Penn defender, and coolly struck one past Penn keeper Jessica Keeley into the lower corner to give the Lions its third straight victory.

Not only was the win Columbia's third straight, it was the Lions' third straight one-goal win, their sixth straight at home and their second consecutive Ivy victory.

Vespa was a stalwart in goal on a difficult day to get a grip on the ball, making eight stops, while Keeley made four saves for Penn. Hurlbut was credited with her league-leading fifth assist on Dantzler's goal.

Columbia will look to continue its winning ways at Princeton on Saturday, October 15 at 4 p.m.